The mechanisms and roles of receptor clustering in cell activation and wound healing by growth factors

生长因子通过与受体相互作用调节细胞增殖、迁移和分化。这种受体通常位于细胞表面，需要细胞内转导系统将信号传递到细胞内部。我们最近已经表明，在细胞中的异源激素受体的唾液酸诱导的集群，这发生在与细胞外基质的接合位点的下游信号分子的共同集群。此外，我们还发现，细胞外基质的细胞更好地响应随后的生长因子刺激。该项目旨在确定受体聚集的细胞机制和受体-细胞外基质相互作用的基础。这将增强我们对生长因子在包括伤口愈合在内的许多条件下的功能的理解。我们将我们的体外结果扩展到动物模型，以确定增强伤口修复的参数。

Growth factors regulate cell proliferation, migration and differentation by interaction with receptors. Such receptors are usually localized at the cell surface, and require intracellular transduction systems to transmit the signal to the cell interior. We have recently shown the hormone-induced clustering of heterologous hormone receptors in cells, and that this occurs with the co-clustering of downstream signalling molecules at sites of engagement with the extracellular matrix. In addition, we have found that cells presented with an extracellular matrix respond better to subsequent growth factor stimulation. The project aims to determine the cellular mechanisms underlying receptor clustering and the basis of the receptor-extracellular matrix interaction. This will enhance our understanding of growth factor function in a number of conditions, including wound healing. We will extend our in vitro results to the animal model to define parameters for enhanced wound repair.