Research
It's what's on the outside (of cells) that counts
Cells are born, die, and function within the dynamic environment of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Therefore, the ongoing relationship between the parenchyma and the stroma, via the ECM, has the potential to dictate the entire fate of the tissue. My PhD focused on ECM dynamics in colitis, showing that ECM remodeling precedes histopathological signs of inflammation. While I appreciated the complexity of the murine models I was working with, I always thought that if I could reconstruct a custom-made tissue from scratch I would be able to better understand the contribution of each tissue component to the pathological process.
This inspired me to look to the world of tissue engineering, and specifically organs-on-chips, in my quest for that additional layer of understanding of tissue-level processes. In my research at the Wyss Institute, funded by Cancer Grand Challenges, I constructed esophageal organ-on-a-chip culture models with clinically derived human cells to study the role that the stroma plays in the progression of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.
At MIT, I leveraged my experience in constructing complex 3D culture models to identify targets and test novel drugs for obesity.
Publications
Equimolar Cross-Coupling Using Reactive Coiled Coils for Covalent Protein Assemblies
Takeuchi H, Shimshoni E, Gandhesiri S, Loas A, Pentelute BL.
Bioconjugate Chemistry 2024. doi.org/10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.4c00327.
Enhancing uterine receptivity for embryo implantation through controlled collagenase intervention
Zehorai E, Gross Lev T, Shimshoni E, Hadas R, Adir I, Golani O, Molodij G, Eitan R, Kadler KE, Kollet O, Neeman M, Dekel N, Solomonov I, Sagi I.
Life Science Alliance 2024 7(10). doi.org/10.26508/lsa.202402656.
Integrated Metabolomics and Proteomics of Symptomatic and Early Presymptomatic States of Colitis
Shimshoni E*, Solomonov I, Sagi I, Ghini V*.
Journal of Proteome Research 2024 23(4). doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.3c00860.
Epithelial-Stromal Interactions in Barrett’s Esophagus Modeled in Human Organ Chips
Shimshoni E, Merry GE, Milot ZD, Oh CY, Horvath V, Gould RA, Caruso JA, Chen-Tanyolac C, Gascard P, Sangwan V, Bérubé J, Bailey SD, Hall S, Stachler MD, Ferri L, Tlsty TD, Ingber DE.
Gastro Hep Advances 2023 2(5):676-680. doi: 10.1016/j.gastha.2023.03.009.
Distinct extracellular–matrix remodeling events precede symptoms of inflammation
Shimshoni E, Adir I, Afik R, Solomonov I, Shenoy A, Adler M, Puricelli L, Sabino F, Savickas S, Mouhadeb O, Gluck N, Fishman S, Werner L, Salame TM, Shouval DS, Varol C, Auf dem Keller U, Podestà A, Geiger T, Milani P, Alon U, Sagi I.
Matrix Biol. 2021 Feb;96:47-68. doi: 10.1016/j.matbio.2020.11.001.
Sample Preparation of Extracellular Matrix of Murine Colons for Scanning Electron Microscopy.
Shimshoni E, Sagi I.
Methods Mol Biol. 2019;1944:129-133. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9095-5_9.
van Rijn JM, Werner L, Aydemir Y, Spronck JMA, Pode-Shakked B, van Hoesel M, Shimshoni E, Polak-Charcon S, Talmi L, Eren M, Weiss B, H J Houwen R, Barshack I, Somech R, Nieuwenhuis EES, Sagi I, Raas-Rothschild A, Middendorp S, Shouval DS.
Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Nov 2;21(21):8200. doi: 10.3390/ijms21218200.
Tumor macrophages are pivotal constructors of tumor collagenous matrix.
Afik R, Zigmond E, Vugman M, Klepfish M, Shimshoni E, Pasmanik-Chor M, Shenoy A, Bassat E, Halpern Z, Geiger T, Sagi I, Varol C.
J Exp Med. 2016 Oct 17;213(11):2315-2331. doi: 10.1084/jem.20151193.
Shimshoni E*, Yablecovitch D*, Baram L, Dotan I, Sagi I.
Gut. 2015 Mar;64(3):367-72. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2014-308048.
Shahar OD, Gabizon R, Feine O, Alhadeff R, Ganoth A, Argaman L, Shimshoni E, Friedler A, Goldberg M.
PLoS One. 2013 Oct 23;8(10):e78472. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078472.
Shahar OD, Raghu Ram EV, Shimshoni E, Hareli S, Meshorer E, Goldberg M.
Oncogene. 2012 Jul 26;31(30):3495-504. doi: 10.1038/onc.2011.516.