Tumor suppressive actions of Yap/Taz during metaplastic regeneration in the stomach

Alexander Gregorieff, PhD
Assistant  Professor
Department of Pathology
McGill University 
Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC), Glen site

This conference is hosted by Jean-François Côté, PhD. This conference is part of the 2024-2025 IRCM conference calendar.

About this conference
Physical or chemical damage to the stomach epithelium induces major reprogramming events that contribute to maintenance of barrier function. In the stomach corpus gland, severe injury triggers a regenerative response characterized by trans-differentiation of post-mitotic chief cells into proliferative muco-secretory metaplastic cells that upregulate a pyloric gene signature. This transient cell type, commonly known as spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia (SPEM), has been linked to the development of gastric cancer in the context of chronic inflammation. While the processes underlying SPEM initiation are increasingly well understood, comparatively fewer studies have examined the signals necessary for the restoration of the homeostatic epithelium following acute injury. Previous work has highlighted the key role played by Hippo signaling in controlling cell fate decisions during tissue regeneration. In this lecture, I will present new findings that demonstrate a key role for the Hippo transcriptional effectors, Yap and Taz, in SPEM resolution and cell fate regulation following acute injury. I will also show additional evidence documenting novel roles for Yap/Taz in immunomodulation and gastric cancer progression.
 

About Alexander Gregorieff
Dr. Gregorieff is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at McGill University and a scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. Dr. Gregorieff’s research program is focused on understanding the mechanisms driving epithelial regeneration and cancer initiation.

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