FEBS MPST 2013

The research communities of cell biology and biological chemistry have focused the last years to the space between cells revealing a network of macromolecules essential for structural support, cell migration, adhesion and signaling. Matrix-mediated regulation of the various cell functions has been demonstrated during the last decade from the structural biochemical and molecular cell biology studies in various in vitro and in vivo models. It is well known that mutations and structural alterations of matrix molecules are closely related to the development of common diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer including metastasis, and diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system as well as more rare conditions. Upon interactions in the extracellular space, these macromolecules affect the extracellular matrix (ECM) dynamics and via cell receptors communicate with the cellular compartment.

These hot topics will be addressed in this FEBS Advance Lecture Course, which will be the 4^th in series following the previous successful FEBS-MPST 2007, 2009 and 2011 (www.febs-mpst2011.upatras.gr) ALCs, all organized Greece. Thanks to the contributing speakers of these courses and the support of FEBS,  three FEBS J MiniReview Series have been recently published: 1) Proteoglycans in health and disease: emerging concepts and future directions (Coordinated  by R. Iozzo and N. Karamanos,  2010), 2) Metalloproteinases in health and disease: challenges and the future prospects (Coordinated by H. Nagase and N. Karamanos, 2011), and 3) Regulatory roles of hyaluronan in health and disease (Coordinated by V. Hascall and N. Karamanos, 2011, a podcast is available). Moreover, thanks to the contribution of a high number of outstanding experts a book entitled Extracellular Matrix: Pathobiology and Signaling has been recently (Sept. 2012) edited.

Issues related with matrix organization and assembly, cell adhesion, matrix-mediated signaling, as well as the matrix macromolecular effectors, namely integrins, proteoglycans and glycans, novel collagen types, growth factors and metalloproteinases and other matrix degrading enzymes that affect the cell behavior, will be the target of this 4^th Advanced Lecture Course. These topics are of great importance to understand the maintenance of normal tissue homeostasis and disease initiation and development, signaling elicited by interactions of cell surface receptors with matrix components and growth factors and rapid and sensitive structure analysis and cell imaging methods.

The 4^th FEBS Advance Lecture Course entitled “Matrix Pathobiology, Signaling and Molecular Targets 2013”, further to topics covered in the previous FEBS-MPST courses will cover topics related to ongoing development in the fields of:

1. Cell surface, interactions and signaling dealing with integrins, cell membrane and secreted proteoglycans as well as shed syndecans and glypicans, modulation of receptor activation and signaling by matrix effectors,
2. Metalloproteinases and other proteases dealing with enzymes implicated in disease development and progression,
3. Matrix organization and assembly dealing with novel collagen types, and other emerging concept including proteoglycans & GAGs, non-collagenous proteins, matrix components and inflammation as well as tissue organization and properties.

These fields will focus also on matrix-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), glycomics and domain mapping of interactions with matrix effectors and their importance for disease treatment and diagnosis. Key areas of cancer stem cell biology and biomarkers, and pharmacological targeting in malignancies are also included.

The 4th FEBS-MPST 2013 meeting will provide important new knowledge to participants in the form of:

1.   Understanding the importance of the main matrix macromolecules, their structure-function relationship as well as their therapeutical importance, mainly from the general lectures (tutorials) to be held.

2.   The tissue organization and the matrix assembly mediated by matrix macromolecules in health and disease.

3.  New insights on how matrix macromolecules contribute to cell signaling and cell behavior as well as how these molecules affect disease development and progress.

4.   Participants will further become familiar with methodological challenges used for expression and determination of various macromolecules with biopharmaceutical importance as well as novel aspects of cell imaging.

An important goal of this course is to bring together scientists from biochemistry, life sciences and molecular cell biology on an important and fast growing scientific field. The benefits of the course will provide participants with a new understanding of the matrix-mediated cell signaling, new technology for unraveling molecular structure and function as well as how this can be used to study alterations in tissue in disease. The participants will gain information that can be applied in their academic environment and research institutes. For such a purpose apart from invited lectures, tutorial, selected talks from young fellows, poster sessions, panel discussions and speaker corners (meet the experts) will be organized.