The research in our group emphasizes on regulation of cell volume, cell migration, proliferation and programmed cell death (apoptosis). Cell volume regulation and the regulation of cell migration, proliferation or apoptosis exhibit multiple common features, and several lines of evidence indicate that these processes are closely interconnected. Proliferation is frequently associated with cell swelling and is stimulated by osmotic swelling. Conversely, cell shrinkage is a characteristic and necessary feature of apoptosis. The exact coupling between cell swelling and proliferation and between cell shrinkage and triggering of apoptosis is, however far from clear. To solve these problems we study the signalling sequences and the ion transporters involved in these regulations in cell cultures with electrophysiological and molecular biological techniques. A specific focus is on the role of Ca2+-activated chloride channel (CaCC) and Volume Regulated anion channel in cancer cells.IonTraC project: Cl- and K+ channels in PDAC growth and chemotherapy resistanceHomepageRelevant publications:Hoffmann EK, Lambert IH.(2014). Ion channels and transporters in the development of drug resistance in cancer cells. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci vol 369. Issue 1638 Article number 20130109.Hoffmann EK, Holm NB and Lambert IH.(2014). Function of volume sensitive and calcium activated chloride channels. IUBM.LIFE. VOL 66, issue 4; 257-267.Lang F, Hoffmann EK (2013). CrossTalk proposal: Cell volume changes are an essential step in the cell death machinery. J Physiol. 2013 Dec 15;591(Pt 24):6119-21. Pedersen SF, Hoffmann EK, Novak I. Cell volume regulation in epithelial physiology and cancer.Front Physiol. 2013 Aug 30;4:233. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2013.00233. Jacobsen KS, Zeeberg K, Sauter DR, Poulsen KA, Hoffmann EK, Schwab A.(2013) The role of TMEM16A (ANO1) and TMEM16F (ANO6) in cell migration. Pflugers Arch. 2013 Dec;465(12):1753-62.. Lang F, Hoffmann EK (2012). Role of ion transport in control of apoptotic cell death. Compr Physiol. 2012 Jul;2(3):2037-61.
