2003 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Roles of cell-cell interaction in cellular differentiation and morphogenesis

Research Project

Project/Area Number	11235203
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Review Section	Biological Sciences
Research Institution	Kyoto University (2000-2003) Tokyo Metropolitan Organization for Medical Research (1999)
Principal Investigator	SEHARA-FUJISAWA Atsuko Kyoto University, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Professor, 再生医科学研究所, 教授 (60209038)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	NAGASAWA Takashi NAGASAWA,Takashi, 再生医科学研究所, 教授 (80281690) BABA Tadashi University of Tsukuba, Institute of Applied Biochemistry, Professor, 応用生物化学系, 教授 (40165056) 林茂生理化学研究所, 発生・再生科学総合研究センター, グループディレクター (60183092) TOMOHIRO Kurisaki Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Assistant (90311422)
Project Period (FY)	2003
Keywords	Cell-cell interaction / tissue construction / morphogenesis / epithelial tissue / adhesion molecules / ADAM family / chemokine
Research Abstract	Cellular differentiation and tissue organization in multicellular organisms depend on cell-autonomous and -nonautomous programs. This research area deals with understanding molecular mechanisms of cell differentiation and tissue organization mainly based on molecular genetis and studies with whole animals. Especially, these researches focus on dynamic features of cell-cell interactions during development in order to provide new insights into mechanisms of morphogenesis. We could clarify several key players for regulation of cellular differentiation and tissue organization. We discussed the importance of cell-cell interactions from various viewpoints as follows. 1)Intercellular signaling between migratory and "niche" cells that is required for differentiation of migratory cells. 2)Signals from adjacent cells or tissues that determine polarity of tissue organization. 3)Regulatory roles of ADAM family for membrane-anchored signaling molecules. 4)Alterod expression or localization of adhesion molecules requilfed for remodeling of epithelial tissues. 5)Formation of adherent machineries that regulate epithelial cell differentiation and tissue organization 6)Mechanisms that kill undifferentiated cells.