University of York
Application accepted all year round
About the Project
Communication between individual cells is vital to coordinate overall function of the cell population. Cell-cell signalling is traditionally analysed as ligand-receptor interact ions, but can also be achieved by the exchange of cytoplasmic content using membrane-bound nano-sized structures termed extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs contain valuable lipids, messenger-RNA, micro-RNA, signalling cytokines, and proteins. A subset of EVs are exosomes, which are derived from multi-vesicular bodies en route to the lysosome. Exosomes have been recognised as a significant cell–cell communication pathway in cancer and exosome therapy is a highly targeted, flexible treatment for conditions like osteoarthritis, chronic pain, and musculoskeletal injuries. Genetic disorders, chronic and degenerative diseases, and the natural ageing process can all inhibit your cells’ ability to communicate. Exosome therapy improves the communication channels between cells to stimulate healing.
Whilst exosomes represent a new therapeutic avenue to treat chronic diseases, their biogenesis and their biological roles requires further research. It is now becoming apparent that there is interplay between the autophagy and the exosome biogenesis pathways. This PhD will use the expertise of the Pryor Lab in autophagy and lysosome biogenesis to examine how autophagy and TFEB, a master regulator of autophagy, can regulate the efficiency of EV production, which can be used to treat chronic diseases. The Genever lab has engineered immortalised mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) lines where the EVs are being characterised. Together, the expertise of the two labs will provide a greater understanding in the biogenesis of EVs and in the efficiency of their production.