SORIANI

Ion channels are membrane proteins involved in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. Our group has focused his research on the role of these membrane proteins in cancer and hereditary hemolytic anemias.

1) Ion channel and cancer: Ion channels are involved in coupling extracellular events to cell behaviour. They contribute to the hallmarks of cancers and clinical outcome. Therefore, it is crucial to gain knowledge on the oncogenic mechanisms behind ion channel dysregulation to enhance current treatments.

2) Hereditary stomatocytosis is responsible for hemolytic anemia that is caused by mutations in red blood cell ion channels. Understanding ion channel alterations behing mutations in patients is a prerequisite to treat this rare disease.

1) Using 3D cell culture, co-culture with cell lines specifically expressing or invalidated for targetted ion channels and their regulators, we study the impact of various components of the tumour micro environmment (TME) (such as cancer fibroblast-derived matrix) on tumour cell electrical activity, as well as the link between ion channel activity and tumour cell behavior in vitro and in vivo. This led to the characterization of several ion channels and regulatory proteins as potential players in TME-induced cancer cell invasiveness.

2) By organizing a partnership with Hematologists, we characterize the different mutations identified in patients suffering hereditary stomatocytosis. The moleculars features of mutated ion channels are studied as well as their effect on red blood cell homeostasis.