Project description
The role of tissue mechanics in homeostasis
The epithelium lining the intestine is one of the fastest-regenerating tissues in the body. However, it is not fully clear what triggers differentiated cells to be removed from the intestinal epithelium. The scope of the EU-funded MCExtrusion project is to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and identify molecular determinants of cell extrusion. Researchers will also study the mechanical properties of the intestinal epithelium and investigate the role of tissue mechanics such as tension and contractility in the process of cell extrusion. Results will offer genetic and mechanistic insight into homeostasis of the intestine, with obvious projections in health and disease.
Objective
The intestinal epithelium undergoes continuous self-renewal through coordination of cell proliferation in the crypt and cell removal in the villus region. The aim of this project is to elucidate the mechanisms controlling the removal of differentiated cells from the villus. Preliminary data indicate that most extruding cells are non-apoptotic suggesting alternative mechanisms regulating this key homeostatic event. Cells might either commit to extrusion through specific differentiation programs or local tissue mechanical constraints might force the extrusion of otherwise indistinguishable cells. Feedback between cell fate and mechanical constraints can be also envisaged. Here I propose to identify genes that control cell extrusion by analyzing the dynamic transcriptomic signature of the mouse intestinal epithelium using nascent mRNA sequencing (scEU-seq) and pharmacologic inhibition of candidate pathways in intestinal organoids. Target genes will be functionally validated by a CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout screen. This analysis will be flanked by experiments investigating a potential role of tissue-scale mechanical forces in cell extrusion. I will measure the mechanical properties of the intestinal epithelium and obtain a detailed description of the morphological dynamics characterizing cell extrusion using live imaging and 3D-shape reconstruction. Precise manipulation of cortical tension by means of laser ablation combined with subcellular optogenetics will be used to functionally perturb tissue mechanics and reveal the impact of cell contractility and tissue tension on the extrusion process. Collectively, this project will help understanding how tissue homeostasis in the intestinal epithelium is maintained and dissect the relative contribution of genetic signaling circuits and tissue mechanics in regulating cell extrusion.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology homeostasis
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1011 JV AMSTERDAM
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.