Abstract
Cell migration is essential for wound healing, and although considerable progress has been achieved in identifying many of the molecular pathways that control cell migration, the role of tissue stiffness on cell migration during wound healing is unknown. By combining expertise in cell migration (Mayor) and biomechanics (Charras), we have recently uncovered a novel role for mechanical stiffness in regulating neural crest migration. Here we propose this multi-disciplinary project that will build on these findings by studying the role of brain stiffness on macrophage migration during wound healing. By taking the advantage of zebrafish transgenesis and novel optogenetic tools this project will test the new hypothesis that mechanical tissue stiffness controls brain wound healing.
References
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