Objective Two unconventional concepts of skin contraction are presented that could change the current paradigm of wound healing. The overall objective is to clarify the underlying processes and to develop new therapies to prevent excessive scarring, ameliorate patients lives and reduce medical health care expenses. Specific emphasis lies on the role of Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and keratinocytes. Previous internationally acknowledged work of the PI resulted in these challenging concepts. The project will take place at the Medical School Hannover with its vast scientific infrastructure perfectly suited for this type of pioneer research. Unconventional is the concept that MMP lead to contrary cell responses. By degrading matrix molecules, MMP induce cell disassembly and migration. Only MMP-3 and -7 cleave cadherins and induce adhesion. MMP-3 deficient mice showed normal wound epithelialisation without contraction. Presumably by controlled proteolysis of intercellular molecules, cell adhesivity increases. Firm adhesion complexes provide stable anchorage sites for force generation. Selective MMP-3 inhibition would reduce contraction without impairing epithelialisation. The concept of the epithelial role in contraction differs from the paradigm and marks a beyond the state-of-art approach in wound healing. Keratinocytes at the air-liquid interphase close wounds by reepithelialisation and surface minimization. Hence, reduction of surface tension would decrease epidermal contraction. Alveolar surface tension is reduced by surfactants in preterm infants. Assuming that epidermal wounds could profit of surfactants is a high risk high gain approach of tackling hypertrophic scarring, but if successful it would revolutionize burn wound therapy. Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-LS9 - ERC Starting Grant - Applied life sciences and biotechnology Call for proposal ERC-2009-StG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Host institution UNIVERSITAET BREMEN EU contribution € 888 894,42 Address Bibliothekstrasse 1 28359 Bremen Germany See on map Region Bremen Bremen Bremen, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Ursula Mirastschijski (Dr.) Administrative Contact Silke Reinold (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITAET BREMEN Germany EU contribution € 888 894,42 Address Bibliothekstrasse 1 28359 Bremen See on map Region Bremen Bremen Bremen, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Principal investigator Ursula Mirastschijski (Dr.) Administrative Contact Silke Reinold (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data CONSTRUCTOR UNIVERSITY BREMEN GGMBH Participation ended Germany EU contribution No data Address CAMPUS RING 1 28725 Bremen See on map Region Bremen Bremen Bremen, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Ronald Kieschnick (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data MEDIZINISCHE HOCHSCHULE HANNOVER Germany EU contribution € 410 945,58 Address Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1 30625 Hannover See on map Region Niedersachsen Hannover Region Hannover Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Frank Dittrich (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
