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26/01/2024 - General information

Local Cellular Interactions Analyzed in Current Opinion in Cell Biology

Drs. Anna Bigas and David Sprinzak from Tel Aviv University have published comprehensive reviews as editors on the mechanisms of cell communication in various tissues. This review is a potential study to understand how life and diseases develop.

Dr. Anna Bigas, the coordinator of the Stem Cells and Cancer Research Group at the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, is one of the editors of a section on cellular interactions published in the journal Current Opinion in Cell Biology. Alongside Dr. David Sprinzak from the School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry, and Biophysics at Tel Aviv University in Israel, they have selected 14 reviews on this topic in different fields to identify mechanisms that may be important in other systems or diseases. 

As Dr. Bigas explains, "life is closely linked to the ability of cells to interact. The article aims to provide a current overview of different forms of cell communication." The studies begin with various strategies for cell contact, which may be used or disabled in specific pathologies. Communication can occur through biochemical interactions, interactions of cellular organelles, or physical forces that involve biochemical changes, regulating vital functions for the cell and the organism.

 World-renowned experts in cell biology have contributed by conducting reviews on the state of this topic in blood cells, from the formation of stem cells in the development of the immune system to kidney formation, cancer models, and the tumor microenvironment, among others. "The diversity of experimental models helps us identify mechanisms that may be important in other systems or diseases," notes Dr. Bigas. Therefore, advancing the understanding of cell communication mechanisms is crucial to gaining better insights, particularly in a field where new tools and technology are available to analyze them in-depth.

Reference Article:

Bigas A, Sprinzak D. Local cellular interactions: From signaling to mechanics across development, evolution, and disease. Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2024 Jan 11;86:102312. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102312. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38215515.

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