Welcome to the Franze Lab
Key aspects of the development of the central nervous system (CNS) include the formation of neuronal axons, their subsequent growth and guidance through thick layers of nervous tissue, and the folding of the brain. All these processes involve motion and must thus be driven by forces. However, while our understanding of the biochemical and molecular control of these processes is increasing rapidly, the contribution of mechanics remains poorly understood.
Cell motion is also crucially involved in CNS pathologies such as foreign body reactions, in which activated glial cells migrate towards and encapsulate implants (e.g., electrodes), and the failing regeneration of neurons after CNS (e.g., spinal cord) injuries. Repair can currently not be promoted. So far, research has - without any major breakthrough - mainly focused on chemical signals impeding and promoting neuronal (re)growth.
We are taking an interdisciplinary approach and investigating how mechanical tissue properties, cellular forces and the cells’ response to tissue mechanics contribute to CNS development and disease. Understanding how and when CNS cells actively exert forces and respond to their mechanical environment will shed new light on CNS development, and could eventually lead to novel biomedical approaches to treating or circumventing pathologies which involve mechanical signalling.
Research overview
Our lab investigates how neurons integrate mechanical and chemical signals during developmental and regenerative processes. Methods we are exploiting include atomic force microscopy, traction force microscopy, custom-built simple and complex compliant cell culture substrates, optical microscopy, as well as cell and molecular biological approaches. We have shown, for example, that nervous tissue is highly mechanically heterogeneous. Furthermore, we have found that neurons constantly exert forces on their environment and that both neurons and glial cells respond to mechanical cues such as tissue stiffness. Local tissue mechanics regulates brain development by directly guiding growing neuronal axons along the required paths as well as by contributing to the makeup of the chemical landscape growing neurons encounter. Future research integrating approaches from the physical and life sciences will shed new light on important open questions in the field, and potentially contribute to solving long-standing medical problems.
Our Team
Contact
Principal Investigator Professor Kristian Franze
Max-Planck-Zentrum für Physik und Medizin
Staudtstr. 2
91058 Erlangen, Germany
Director, Institute of Medical Physics and Microtissue Engineering
Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Henkestr. 91
91052 Erlangen
Tel: +49 (0)9131 85-22310
Kristian Franze
"Understanding how neurons integrate mechanical and chemical signals will be key to understanding brain development and disorder."
Neuronal Mechanics
