MCMB

Molecular and regenerative medicine of the cytoskeleton related diseases

 

The cytoskeleton is a highly dynamic system that controls some of the very fundamental processes in cells, such as proliferation, migration, stress response, cell metabolism, organelle positioning, gene expression etc. Our aim is to better understand the function of some cytoskeletal components in these processes and the signaling pathways involved, by using as model systems primary and immortalized human and animal cells (both in normal and human disease situations), as well as iPSC cell lines we generated by reprogramming patient derived fibroblasts and keratinocytes. iPSCs provide in turn an unlimited source of patient cells, as they can be differentiated in many different cell types and used to develop 3D in vitro tissue models for studying disease mechanisms, screen potential therapeutic compounds and test new therapy delivery approaches. We are currently developing a 3D FULLSKIN equivalent for different types of epidermolysis bullosa, a severe skin fragility.

⇒ Link to a current core research project: 4D-HEALING

Past and Present Research Projects:

International collaboration and clinical partners:

  • King’s College London, London, UK (Prof. Dusko Ilic)
  • University of Leuven, Belgium (Prof. Sergei Strelkov)
  • Institute of Medical Biology, A*Star, Singapore (Prof. Birgitte E. Lane)
  • Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Vilnius, Lithuania (Dr. Ranikas Vallokas)
  • Department of Medical Sciences, Dermatology, Upssala University, Sweden (Prof. Hans Torma)

Researchers involved:

Researcher Position
Mirjana Liović Group leader, P. I.
Radovan Komel 4D-HEALING  project leader
Marija Rogar Post-doctoral scientist
Sara Raspor Junior Researcher
Špela Zemljič Jokhadar Post-doctoral scientist
Former Group Members
Aleksander Lipovec Oral surgeon, Former MSc student
Tina Zupančič Former PhD student from NIC / LEK
Špela Peternel Former post-doctoral scientist
Apolonija Bedina Zavec Former post-doctoral scientist
Mateja Zajec (Ožir) Former laboratory technician

 

Education:

Student Thesis Title Year Supervisor
Tina Zupančič PhD The influence of the keratin cytoskeleton on the cell response caused by ionizing radiation and death receptor cytokines. 2020 Mirjana Liović

 

Selected publications:

  • Khuerana P. et al. (2020): Stem cell research lab resource : stem cell line induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line MLi-003A derived from an individual with the maximum number of filaggrin (FLG) tandem repeats. Stem Cell Res. 45: 1-5; doi: 10.1016/j.scr.2020.101827.
  • GouveiaM. et al. (2020):  Keratin dynamics and spatial distribution in wild-type and K14 R125P mutant cells – a computational model. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 21(7): 1-13; doi: 10.3390/ijms21072596.
  • Zemljič Jokhadar Š., Dragoš V., Liović M. (2020):  Epidermolysis bullosa, wound management and new therapeutic approaches. Slovenian Medical Journal 89(1/2): 107-117; https://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/2937/2576, doi: 10.6016/ZdravVestn.2937.
  •  Zemljič Jokhadar Š., Stojković B., Vidak M., Sorčan T., Liović M., Gouveia M., Travasso R., Derganc J. (2020): Cortical stiffness of keratinocytes measured by lateral indentation with optical tweezers. PloS One 15(12): 1-13; https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0231606, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0231606.
  • Ilić D. , Liović M., Noli L. (2020): Industry updates from the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine in June 2020. Regenerative Medicine; doi: 10.2217/rme-2020-0102.
  • Ilić D. , Liović M., Noli L. (2020): Industry updates from the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine in May 2020. Regenerative Medicine; doi: 10.2217/rme-2020-0090.
  • Ilić D. , Liović M., Noli L. (2020): Industry updates from the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine in April 2020. Regenerative Medicine; doi: 10.2217/rme-2020-0068.
  • Ilić D. , Liović M., Noli L. (2020): Industry updates from the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine in March 2020. Regenerative Medicine; doi: 10.2217/rme-2020-0052.
  • Ilić D. , Liović M., Noli L. (2020): Industry updates from the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine in February 2020. Regenerative Medicine; doi: 10.2217/rme-2020-0033.
  • Ilić D. , Liović M., Noli L. (2020): Industry updates from the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine in January 2020. Regenerative Medicine; doi: 10.2217/rme-2020-0016.
  • Ilić D. , Liović M., Noli L. (2020): Industry updates from the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine in October 2019. Regenerative Medicine; doi: 10.2217/rme-2019-0140.
  • Ilić D. , Liović M., Noli L. (2020): Industry updates from the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine in September 2019. Regenerative Medicine; doi: 10.2217/rme-2019-0131.
  • Ilić D., Liović M. (2020): Industry updates from the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine in December 2019. Regenerative Medicine; doi: 2217/rme-2020-0009.
  • Zemljič Jokhadar Š., Dragoš V., Liović M.. (2019): Epidermolysis bullosa, wound management and new therapeutic approaches. Slov. Med. J. 89(1/2): 107-117; doi: 10.6016/ZdravVestn.2937.
  • Kolundzic N. et al. (2019): Induced pluripotent stem cell line heterozygous for p.R501X mutation in filaggrin: KCLi003-A”. Stem Cell Res. 39, pp. 1-6; doi: 10.1016/j.scr.2019.101527.
  • Kulundzic N. et al. (2019): Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from an epidermolysis bullosa simplex patient heterozygous for keratin 5 E475G mutation and with the Dowling Meara phenotype. Stem Cell Res. 37:101424; doi: 10.1016/j.scr.2019.101424.
  • Ilić D., Liović M., Noli L. (2019): Industry updates from the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine in June 2019. Regenerative Medicine; doi: 10.2217/rme-2019-0093.
  • Ilić D., Liović M., Noli L. (2019): Industry updates from the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine in July 2019.  Regenerative Medicine; doi: 10.2217/rme-2019-0101.
  • Ilić D., Liović M. (2019): Industry updates from the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine in August 2019. Regenerative Medicine; doi: 10.2217/rme-2019-0115.
  • Ilić D., Liović M. (2019): Industry updates from the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine in May 2019. Regenerative Medicine; doi: 10.2217/rme-2019-0075.
  •  Zemljič Jokhadar Š. et al. (2018): GPMVs in variable physiological conditions: could they be used for therapy delivery? BMC Biophys. 11:1. doi: 10.1186/s13628-017-0041-x.
  • Zupančič T. et al. (2017): Keratin gene mutations influence the keratinocyte response to DNA damage and cytokine induced apoptosis. Arch. Dermatol. Res.  309(7):5 87-593; doi: 10.1007/s00403-017-1757-9.
  • Bedina-Zavec A. et al. (2014): Archeosomes can efficiently deliver any type of cargo into skin cells. J. Biotechnol. 192: 130-135; doi: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2014.09.015.
  • Zupančič T. et al. (2014): Intestinal cell barrier function in vitro is severely compromised by keratin 8 and 18 mutations identified in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. PloS One 9(6): 1-8 = e99398; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099398.
  • Zupančič T. et al. (2012): Keratinocyte-based cell assays: their potential pitfalls. Arch. Dermatol. Res. 304(9): 765-8; doi: 10.1007/s00403-012-1285-6.
  • Liović M. et al. (2012): Inclusion bodies as potential vehicles for recombinant protein delivery into epithelial cells. Microbial Cell Factories 11(1): iss. 67; doi: 10.1186/1475-2859-11-67.
  • Chamcheu J.C. et al. (2011): Keratin gene mutations in disorders of human skin and its appendages. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 508(2): 123-37; doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2010.12.019.
  • Chamcheu J.C. et al. (2011): Chemical chaperones protect epidermolysis bullosa simplex keratinocytes from heat stress-induced keratin aggregation: Involvement of heat shock proteins and MAP kinases. J. Invest. Dermatol. 131(8): 1684-91; doi: 10.1038/jid.2011.93.
  • Liović M. et al. (2009): Severe keratin 5 and 14 mutations induce down-regulation of junction proteins in keratinocytes. Exp. Cell Res. 315(17): 2995-3003; doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2009.07.013.
  • Moss D.K. et al. (2007): Ninein is released from the centrosome and moves bi-directionally along microtubules. J. Cell Sci. 120(9): 3064-3074; doi: 10.1242/jcs.010322.
  • Winter H. et al. (2004): An unusual Ala12Thr polymorphism in the 1A [alpha]-helical segment of the companion layer-specific keratin K6hf : evidence for a risk factor in the etiology of the common hair disorder pseudofolliculitis barbae. Invest. Dermatol. 122(3): 652-7; doi: 10.1111/j.0022-202X.2004.22309.x.

Contact:

mirjana.liovic@mf.uni-lj.si