INSERM UMR1125 is founded on a structure of university Paris 13 (EA 4222), created in 1996.
Since its birth in 1996, twenty PhD theses were defended and about a hundred of articles have been published in international peer reviewed journals on the topics of the laboratory. Among the advances, we can cite some examples:
Cytokines and cellular and molecular protagonists
- Demonstration of the role of the second receptor of interleukin-1 (IL-1RII) in models of arthritis.
- Highlighting the role of NKT cells ("natural killer T cells") in the collagen induced arthritis in mice.
- Highlighting subpopulations of regulatory T cells in rheumatoid arthritis and several experimental models of arthritis.
- Identification of a functional Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 expressed at the cell surface of primary neutrophils.
- Demonstration of the key role of primary neutrophils as a major source of interferon-alpha (IFN-α).
Innovating therapies
- Definition and implementation of an experimental gene therapy strategy in arthritis models, with plasmid or viral vectors. Feasibility study of an experimental gene therapy in human joint diseases. Early work of cell therapy with vector cells in models of arthritis.
- Development of active immunotherapy (or vaccination) targeting TNFalpha ("tumor necrosis factor alpha") in models of arthritis, and clinical trials in humans.
- Development of vaccines using cytokines’ peptides coupled to macromolecules, such as anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and anti-IL-23 (interleukin 23), which some are in preclinical development.
- Study of the mechanism of action of different biotherapies used in humans.
