Welcome and thanks for visiting our webpage!

We are a group of scientists interested in understanding how epigenetic changes drive the nuclear deformability, migration and infiltration of leukaemia cells. We are part of the Faculty of Medicine (Complutense University of Madrid, UCM) and the Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation (University of Manchester, UoM).

 

 

RESEARCH BACKGROUND

Cell migration is central to numerous biological functions in embryogenesis, tissue renewal and immunity. Migration of a cell though tissues requires its interaction with its matrix environment, and recently it has become clear that cell plasticity is critical for this motility through narrow spaces. For that, the cell needs to alter the physical properties of the nucleus, as the major and most rigid organelle in the cell body. Most of these advances link the expression of nuclear components, such as lamins, with cell plasticity; however how epigenetic changes affect cell migration is poorly understood. Epigenetic changes control gene transcription and DNA homeostasis, and some of them have been linked to active migration and motility of certain cancer cells.

Lymphocytes, as the immune cells mediating the adaptative response, require fast migration and recycing to/from immune organs to affected tissues, integrin receptors play an essential role during cell migration.  Lymphocyte nuclei become remodeled under 2D shear flow conditions, and in a 3D environment when they traverse vessels and migrate through stroma. We hypothesise that both the composition and mechanical properties of the matrix influence migration via a control on cell nuclei. We therefore aim to test this hypothesis by determining how ECM composition and mechanics control nuclear organisation, and how nuclear composition and chromatin modification influence 3D migration. Our work will provide novel insights on how cell-matrix interactions control normal and tumor lymphocyte migration through tissues, which will impact on future treatments for human diseases and cancer. 

RESEARCH GROUP

Ms. Elena Madrazo (PhD student)

Ms. Raquel González Novo (PhD student)

Dr. Héctor Zamora Carreras (Postdoc)

Mr. Ander de Blas (Master student)

Former members

Ms. Andrea Cordero (Undergraduate student)

Mr. David Acitores (Master student)

Ms. Laura Dalia (Undergraduate student)

Mr. Celso Yáñez (Master student)

Ms. Estefanía Alonso (PhD student)

Ms. Roberta Turner (Undergraduate student)

Dr. Carmen Mata Martín (Postdoc)

WORKING WITH US

We are always interested in recruiting talented and motivated people with a strong interest in immunology, leukemia and cell migration fields. 

EVENTS AND NEWS

Trying to be productive during this difficult time... Delighted to announce that our last paper has been published in Scientific Reports. Great collaboration with Prof. Monroy's group and Dr. Ramírez!

Javier will be preseting our most recent data at the VI WORKSHOP MECHANISMS OF CELL ADHESION, MIGRATION AND INVASION in Badajoz (Spain). See you there!

Our first overseas student Roberta Turner has returned to UK. Thanks to British Society of Haematology for funding her visit.

Our student Celso passed his final TFM.

Raquel González-Novo has joined our lab as a future FPI fellow.

Javier presents this week (27th-30thNovember) our recent publication in the SystemEpgenetics meeting (Amsterdam).

Our students David and Laura have obtained outstanding marks for their final TFM and TGF projects (9.9 and 9.5 respectively).

Dissemination time! Elena is presenting a poster at the Frankfurt Cancer Conference 2018 (Germany) and Javier a poster and short-talk at the 2018 FEBS Advanced Course on the Extracellular Matrix (Greece).

We are extremely honoured to join the new Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology and Inflammation. Please visit https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/research/domains/infection-immunity-inflammation-repair/immunology/ to see more about our new institute and partners.

We are currently organising the 1st Immunology Frontiers Seminar Series-UCM. Please, have a look at: https://www.ucm.es/microbiologia-1/ifss-ucm.

The first English Module within the School of Medicine finished! Such an exciting opportunity to impact on our Master students!  See you next academic year.

MASS MEDIA

Our paper published in Scientific Reports (2020). https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20200428/48792666080/desarrollan-una-tecnica-para-mejorar-el-diagnostico-de-la-leucemia-aguda.html  http://tribuna.ucm.es/43/art4102.php#.Xqaa-ZMzYUs

Interview in Libertad FM (by Antonio Armas). https://www.radioenfermedadesraras.com/podcast/mecanobiologia-del-nucleo-y-migracion-de-celulas-tumorales-contaminacion-exter-ref100078243.html

Javier Redondo-Muñoz Gilead International Scholarship Awardee. http://tribuna.ucm.es/200/art2864.php#.XqacPZMzYUs

Interview in RadioX London (2016). https://sruk.org.uk/es/podcast/episodio-6-adn-epigenetica/

RECENT KEY PUBLICATIONS

COLLABORATORS

Dr. Adam Hurlstone (The University of Manchester)

Dr. Nigel Hodson (The University of Manchester)

Prof. Chris Pepper (Brighton and Sussex Medical School)

Prof. Francisco Monroy (Complutense University of Madrid)

Dr. Manuel Ramírez Orellana (Hospital Pediátrico Universitario Niño Jesús)

Dr. Paloma Sánchez Mateos (Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón)

Dr. Ronen Alon (Weizmann Institute of Science)

 

CONTACT DETAILS

Department of Immunology

School of Medicine, Complutense University

28040 Madrid (Spain)

 

Email: javredon@ucm.es

Follow us in Twitter at @jredondomunoz 

RESEARCH BIOGRAPHY