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Researchers discover the mechanism that determines cell position in the intestinal epithelium

By 1 de August de 2011November 18th, 2020No Comments
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 01.08.2011

Researchers discover the mechanism that determines cell position in the intestinal epithelium

Researchers with the Colorectal Cancer Lab at IRB Barcelona –based at the PCB– have revealed the molecular mechanisms responsible for organizing the intestinal epithelium into distinct comportments, defined by frontiers or territories. The study, headed by Eduard Batlle, coordinator of the Oncology Programme at IRB Barcelona and ICREA Research Professor, is published in today's online version of the Journal Nature Cell Biology, part of the editorial group Nature.


The organization of tissues and organs in the human body can be compared to a very complex and sophisticated engine, whose structure is maintained by positioning its components (cells) in a very precise way.

Errors in the assembly (location) of the components might lead to changes in the function of the engine (tissue or organ). Complex tissues and organs require the separation of diverse cells types into separate zones in order to maintain their architecture.

The loss of cell organization in a tissue is often associated with cancer. This new regulatory mechanism of affinity between cells types and territory maintenance could be key to our understanding of how less aggressive tumors evolve into malignant ones.

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