GDCB Seminar: "Cell migration and communication during inflammation and tissue repair"
Speaker: Anna Huttenlocher, professor in the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology at the University of Wisconsin
Title: "Cell migration and communication during inflammation and tissue repair"
Research: Our research focuses on understanding the basic molecular mechanisms that regulate cell movement—in the context of wound healing, inflammation and cancer. Cell migration plays a central role in many different disease processes including cancer, heart disease and autoimmune disease. Insight into the mechanisms that regulate cell migration will contribute to our understanding of basic cellular processes, but will also aid in the identification of new treatment strategies for a wide variety of medical conditions. Despite extensive interest in the receptors and mechanisms involved during cell migration, many fundamental questions remain unanswered. What are the mechanisms by which a cell initiates and then subsequently stops directional cell migration? How are intracellular signaling events coordinated both temporally and spatially to promote productive, directional cell movements? What are the mechanisms that regulate the migration of leukocytes into areas of inflammation? How do tumor cells invade and metastasize?
Our research is aimed at understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate cell migration using biochemical genetic and imaging approaches. We use state of the art live imaging, biosensors and photomanipulation to examine and control polarity of cell signaling during cell migration in live animals. We also examine host-pathogen interactions in zebrafish.
Hosts: Raquel Espin Palazon, genetics, development and cell biology assistant professor; and Clyde Campbell, genetics, development and cell biology adjunct assistant professor