How cells stick together and keep their top-and-bottom orientation
Intercellular junctions and cell polarity
This project looks at molecules that help epithelial cells stay connected and properly oriented, which is relevant to autoimmune diseases that damage body linings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11235902 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, the researchers are digging into how two proteins, Scrib and Par3, work with the machinery that keeps epithelial cells attached to one another. They use lab experiments on cells and molecular tools to see how enzymes like PP1 and GEF-H1 are switched on or off and how the protein plakophilin-3 links polarity to desmosome assembly. The team builds on recent lab findings to map the chain of events that positions cell–cell junctions along the cell surface. Those experiments are done in the lab rather than as a clinical treatment, aiming to reveal basic causes of barrier defects in tissues.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with autoimmune diseases that affect epithelial barriers (for example inflammatory bowel disease, pemphigus or other autoimmune skin/mucosal disorders) would be most relevant to the findings.
Not a fit: Patients whose autoimmune problems do not involve epithelial barrier dysfunction (for example primarily joint-only autoimmune diseases) may not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify molecular targets to help restore epithelial barriers and reduce tissue damage in some autoimmune conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies have identified parts of the polarity and junction machinery, but linking Scrib, PP1, GEF-H1, and plakophilin-3 to junction positioning is a newer, still largely preclinical line of work.
Where this research is happening
Chicago, United States
- Northwestern University — Chicago, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Troyanovsky, Sergey M — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Troyanovsky, Sergey M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.