Polarité Cellulaire, Migration et Cancer

Our research focuses on the control of cell migration in health and disease. Cell migration is essential during development as well as in adult as it contributes to immune responses, tissue renewal, wound healing. In addition, cell migration and invasion is characteristic of highly malignant tumours that spread into the surrounding tissue to eventually metastasize ^21,22. Migrating isolated cells but also migrating groups, sheets or chains of cells have been observed during physiological and pathological situations. Initiation of migration first requires cell polarization along a front to rear axis. Extracellular cues guiding polarization and migration include soluble factors such as chemoattractants and repellant as well as biochemical and biophysical properties of the extracellular matrix and of surrounding cells.  These extracellular signals are transduced in intracellular signaling pathways that involve evolutionary conserved polarity proteins. The process of migration relies on the coordinated regulation of different cytoskeletal elements including actin, microtubule and intermediate filaments. This regulation occurs downstream of the polarity proteins to insure that the cytoskeletal networks organized in a polarized manner.