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SYLVIE COSCOY

Doctor,
Tenured Research Scientist CNRS
Recherche - Paris
Spécialités / domaines
Cell biology,
Micropatterning,
Physics of living systems,
Multi-scale physics-chemistry-biology and cancer (molecules, cells, tissues and organisms)
Functions within Institut Curie:
Présentation

PI of the Doctoral Group "Geometrical and mechanical determinants of multicellular behaviors: renal cyst formation and vascular organization in microfabricated environments", ED394 Physiology, Physiopathology and Therapeutics, SU.

Project "Formation and propagation of renal cysts: study in biomimetic deformable microfluidic devices"

Coordinated since 2015, collaborations Stéphanie Descroix (MMBM, UMR168), and Frank Bienaimé, Sophie Saunier, Marco Pontoglio, Fabiola Terzi (Necker hospital). Two PhD, one defended.

Keywords : kidney-on-chip; ADPKD (Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease); microfabrication, microfluidics; renal cysts.

We aim to elucidate the physical mechanisms leading to the formation of renal cysts in hereditary cystic diseases, in particular ADPKD (the most frequent genetic kidney disease) or nephronophthisis (rare pediatric diseases). Our strategy is to mimic the geometrical and mechanical properties of renal tubules in a controlled manner in microfluidic devices. We have thus been able to generate networks of tubules of physiological dimensions in biocompatible deformable microfluidic systems. We observed that cellular models of ADPKD led to tubular dilations, which were increased when the tubes were brought closer together, in agreement with in vivo observations. Our current projects aim at understanding the mechanisms of cellular competition at work in the formation of ADPKD cysts, and at studying the influence of mechanical constraints exerted on the tubes.

Project "Endothelial filopodia formation and multicellular engagement induced by 3D microenvironments generated by two-photon photopolymerization "

Coordinated since 2018 with Vincent Semetey (ChimieParistech) and Catherine Monnot (Collège de France). Two PhD in progress.

Keywords: two-photon photopolymerization; filopodia; endothelial cells; image analysis; angiogenesis

This project aims to characterize in detail the interactions of the endothelium with the extracellular matrix, whose complex 3D organization in fibers is altered in different pathophysiological conditions. We are particularly interested in the initial stages of angiogenesis, in which some endothelial cells specialize into "leader" cells emitting exploratory filopodia (tip cells), and triggering multicellular engagement for the formation of a new blood vessel. We have identified specific geometries inducing endothelial engagement and filopodia formation, whose dynamics has been studied through the development of dedicated image analysis tools. We study now the dynamics of multicellular engagement in more complex microstructures.

Publications