Project Details
Projekt
Heterotypic cell-cell interactions in intestinal epithelial cell state evolution during tissue homeostasis and cancer onset
Applicant
Yekaterina Miroshnikova, Ph.D.
Subject Area
Cell Biology
Biophysics
Biophysics
Term
since 2025
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 564756725
Organs of our body are made up of an ensemble of different, functionally specialized cell types. Most cells contain a nucleus which holds within it genetic information in the form of DNA, which encodes for genes, of which a tightly selected subset needs to be transcribed into mRNA and subsequently protein to generate and maintain these specialized cell states. A lot is known about the biochemical pathways that help lock in functional cell states. In addition, in everyday life as we move and breathe, and on smaller scales as our organs are dynamically self-renewed or repaired, our cells are compressed, stretched and deformed. Our research aims to understand how cells and tissues cope with deformation and mechanical stress that they are constantly exposed to without being damaged. We further investigate how these mechanical forces act as signals to instruct cell behavior and change direct cell-cell interactions, especially those between cancer-initiating epithelial cells and neighboring stromal cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, that are critical components of surrounding niche. Our aim is to understand how this communication is corrupted during early events of colorectal cancer onset. This project will uncover cellular and molecular basis of the disruption of tissue homeostasis and emergence of disease cell states, shapes and tissue architectures. Deeper understanding of this process could lead to the development of improved colorectal cancer therapies or improved quality of life for colorectal cancer patients.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
