Cells defend themselves from stress by cohesion

New Delhi, Jan 18 (ANI): In a recent study, researchers have been able to show how cell to cell contacts are necessary for the survival of human cells under protein-damaging conditions and stress. The study was led by Lea Sistonen, Professor in Cell and Molecular Biology at Abo Akademi University was published in the Cell Reports journal. The research project focused on heat shock factor 2 (HSF2), a specialized gene-regulating protein, and its impact on cells' capacity to survive protein-damaging stress which is usually caused by, high temperatures, virus infections and certain anti-cancer medications. The results revealed that HSF2 contributes to protecting cells against stress by regulating those genes that mediate cell adhesion contacts. The findings were obtained by studying how cancer cells respond to some commonly used anticancer medicines, among other things. Cancer cells with compromised adhesion interactions in drug treatment were slightly less active than those with stable ad