SPP 1028: Molekulare Differenzierungsmechanismen von Epithelien

皮肤、粘膜、肺和消化道等上皮器官的结构和功能是由组织特有的分化细胞类型产生和维持的。永久自我更新的上皮及其支持的结缔组织都处于一个不断生长、重组和分化的动态过程中。这些过程涉及组织驻留细胞和浸润性细胞，并受其控制。人们对控制这些复杂过程的机制只有部分了解。已知上皮细胞、间充质细胞和神经外胚层细胞之间的复杂相互作用是由扩散因子和细胞-细胞直接接触介导的。鉴于这些机制的复杂性，在研究组织相互作用控制上皮分化的基本机制的研究计划中，协调不同小组在研究分离细胞和上皮器官分化方面的专业知识似乎是合理的。本研究计划的具体任务将集中在以下几个方面：1.调节上皮分化的扩散因子的产生、释放及其作用机制；2.分析和表征这些因子在靶细胞中对转录、靶基因翻译水平的影响；3.在实验模型中分析基于细胞间相互作用的调控机制，如常规和器官型共培养、器官培养和动物模型。

Structure and function of epithelial organs, such as skin, mucosa, lung, and the digestive tract are produced and maintained by tissue specific differentiated cell types. Both the permanently self-renewing epithelia as well as their supporting connective tissues are in a dynamic process of continuous growth, reorganization and differentiation. These processes involve and are controlled by both tissue-resident and infiltrating cells. The mechanisms controlling these complex processes are only partially understood. It is known that complex interactions between epithelial, mesenchymal and neuroectodermal cells are involved mediated by diffusible factors as well as by direct cell-cell contact. In view of the complexity of these mechanisms, it appeared reasonable to coordinate the work of different groups with expertise in studying differentiation of isolated cells as well as epithelial organs in a research program to study basic mechanisms of tissue interactions controlling epithelial differentiation. The specific tasks of this research program shall focus on the following subjects:1. Production, release and mechanism of action of diffusible factors regulating epithelial differentiation,2. Analysis and characterization of the changes produced by these factors in target cells on transcription, translation level of target genes,3. Analysis of regulatory mechanisms based on cell-cell interactions in experimental models, such as conventional and organotypic cocultures, organ cultures and seclected animal models.