The extracellular matrix in aging, exercise and in the tumor microenvironment

• Grant number: 14/08015-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: July 01, 2014
• End date: June 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Cytology and Cell Biology
• Principal Investigator: Heloisa Sobreiro Selistre de Araújo
• Grantee: Marcela Stefanini Ferreira Tsuboy
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/00798-2 - The extracellular matrix in aging, exercise and in the tumor microenvironment, AP.TEM

Abstract

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is the structural scaffold for body tissues, and it is formed by a complex network of macromolecules such as collagens, glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. The ECM supports tissue volume, size and strength, and it is the basis for cell growth, division, and migration. However, ECM function is beyond structural and mechanical support. The ECM actively modulates cell behavior, polarity, differentiation, proliferation and survival, providing signals that are transmitted to the cytoskeleton and determining cell fate. Many studies have demonstrated the key role of ECM and its interaction with the cells in a number of physiological and pathological processes. Drug design targeting the cell interaction with the ECM represents a new area in the frontier of knowledge. Therefore, in the present project we combined a team of experienced researchers in the ECM field in order to collectively contribute for the knowledge of the ECM roles in the context of aging, in exercise as a form of prevention from the deleterious effects of aging, and in cancer, due to the evident importance of these two areas (exercise and cancer) for human longevity. In vitro (cell culture), in vivo (in humans and in animal models) and ex vivo (human and animal tissues) will be used for gene expression analysis by different techniques in a small- and medium-scale basis. (AU)