1/8 🚨 Thrilled to share our new paper in @NatureCellBio! We show how tissue stiffness fuels cancer metastasis🎗️& lung fibrosis🫁 via #durotaxis, and how blocking mechano-sensing with #mechanotherapeutics 🎯💊could open a path to new treatments. 🔗 https://t.co/TN6L0e9ZXc

Our latest preprint is out! Microtubules act as stiffness #mechanosensors to drive fibroblast #durotaxis and #fibrosis. "αTAT1 defines a microtubule mechanosensing axis that drives fibroblast durotaxis and fibrosis across organs" 🔗 https://t.co/B1LSefzxoL #αTAT1 #Microtubules

Durotaxis: A new therapeutic target against metastatic cancer is discovered | Nuño Domínguez, El Pais A team of scientists describes how malignant cells use ‘highways’ of hardened tissue to spread to other organs, and how blocking two proteins can stop them For centuries,

Nuevo estudio muestra que la rigidez de los tumores no solo los delata, sino que impulsa metástasis y fibrosis vía durotaxis. Abre la puerta a terapias que bloqueen los mecano-sensores celulares. 🌡️🧬

#Durotaxis: A new therapeutic target against metastatic cancer is discovered https://t.co/6ScGPboRDc via @elpaisinenglish

In #PancreaticCancer, stiffening of the tumor microenvironment induces durotaxis of cancer cells, promoting metastatic dissemination. Learn about #durotaxis as a driver and potential therapeutic target in metastatic pancreatic cancer: 💡 https://t.co/tnJ25ibjr0

Scientists demonstrate that in #LungFibrosis, durotaxis directs fibroblast recruitment to sites of injury, where they undergo mechano-activation into scar-forming myofibroblasts. 🔓 Full story in @NatureCellBio: https://t.co/Q3JnltJyos

8/8💐 In memoriam: Dedicated to my late mentor, Prof. Andy Tager, whose passing from pancreatic cancer continues to inspire my vision of translating science into therapies for patients.

7/8🎓Authors: Big congratulations to #LagaresLab team, MGH/Harvard collaborators, and our outstanding academic and industry partners

6/8🎯💊 Therapeutic target: We identified the FAK–paxillin complex as the mechano-sensor that drives durotaxis. In preclinical models, blocking this pathway shut down metastatic escape routes in pancreatic cancer and restored repair in fibrotic lungs.

5/8🎗️In pancreatic cancer, rigid structures form around tumors, creating “escape highways” that cancer cells use to spread via durotaxis. These stiffness-based tracks act like a "cellular GPS", directing metastatic routes and fueling progression.

4/8🫁 In idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the lung fails to repair its air sacs after injury, causing scar buildup that blocks oxygen transfer and stiffens tissue. Abnormal stiffness misguides repair: fibroblasts are recruited via durotaxis, driving scarring and progression.

3/8 #Durotaxis, cell migration along stiffness gradients, was described ~20 years ago. Until now, its role in disease remained speculative. We show durotaxis drives both metastasis and fibrosis.

2/8💡The Discovery: Our team identified new #mechanobiology targets for metastatic pancreatic cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

📢ATTENTION LUNG RESEARCHERS 🫁 3rd Epithelial Mesenchymal Interactions in Lung Development & Fibrosis Conference, 04-07 Oct 2024, Malta. *Talk Submission open *Register now- we anticipate the meeting will be oversubscribed Website: https://t.co/P4W0wqa08F #Fusionlung24

1/7 Latest paper in @CellStemCell! Transitional cell states sculpt tissue topology during lung regeneration. This work was jointly led by @arvikonk @KonishiSatoshi @TataAleksandra & Lauren with help from colleagues in our lab and collaborators @Duke https://t.co/CkxOqspF6u

Finally out! “Challenges and Opportunities for Commercializing Technologies in the Pulmonary Arena - An Official American Thoracic Society Report! Kudos to fearless & unstoppable leaders @mivukmiro @HeckerLouise & team!! #Innovation #RCMBRocks

New collaboration with @DMVlab finally out! We show that contractility of the tumor microenvironment modulates cancer cell signaling and function. Heroic work by @JorgeBarbazan and @PerezGonzalezCa https://t.co/B9nKdk3exA @IBECBarcelona @CIBERBBN

A collection on Mechanobiology 👇

@david_lagares we're looking forward to your presentation at #Fusionlung24 in Malta, Oct 2024🇲🇹 Please RT to let your followers know you'll be speaking & registration/abstract submission is now open! Find out more: https://t.co/P4W0wqa08F #Epithelial #lungdisease #fibrosis