Colloquium Natural & Life Sciences - Vidhya M. Ravi & Alexander Nyström

Session Topic: Research on complex human tissues

Topic Vidhya Madapusi Ravi: Human organotypic brain slice culture: A novel framework for Microenvironmental research.

When it comes to the human brain, models that closely mimic in vivo conditions are lacking. Living neuronal tissue is the closest representation of the in vivo human brain outside of a living person. In this talk, I would like to present a method that can be used to maintain therapeutically resected healthy neuronal tissue for prolonged periods without any discernible changes in tissue vitality, evidenced by immunohistochemistry, genetic expression, and electrophysiology. This method was then used to assess glioblastoma (GBM) progression in its natural environment by microinjection of patient-derived tumor cells into cultured sections. This technique can lead to further advancements in neuroscience, neuro-oncology, and pharmacotherapy.

Topic Alexander Nyström: Extracellular matrix-driven diseases

Cells and their extracellular environment exist in a reciprocal continuum. All aspects of human life are dependent on careful interplays between intra- and extracellular cues. Cells condition their microenvironment and the cellular microenvironment triggers cellular responses through biochemical, electrical and mechanical signals. The extracellular matrix is the principal component of cellular microenvironments. It is dynamic, multifaceted and complex in its organization and molecular composition.

Historically, and still today, the study of human physiology and pathology has been conducted from a rather one-directional cell-centric perspective. Changes within the cell have been viewed as initiators and drivers of development, regeneration and disease. In contrast, the impact of alterations of the extracellular matrix to these events remains underappreciated. Focusing on the skin, I will discuss the extracellular matrix as a driver of disease by drawing parallels between orphan genetic and acquired common diseases.