Chemokine Receptors in Physiology and Pathology
Our research focuses on chemokine receptors, a diverse family of over 20 receptors expressed on various cell types, including immune cells, endothelial cells, and neurons. These receptors play a crucial role in regulating cell migration, a fundamental process essential for immune surveillance, tissue development, and homeostasis. Understanding how chemokine receptors are activated and regulated is key to deciphering their role in both physiological and pathological contexts.
Through a combination of functional assays and advanced in vivo models, our research aims to unravel the molecular mechanisms governing chemokine receptor signaling and regulation. By shedding light on these fundamental aspects, we seek to provide new insights into their involvement in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, with the long-term goal of identifying novel therapeutic strategies.
Our research is structured around two main axes:
• Deciphering the mechanisms underlying receptor activation and regulation to better understand their function in biological conditions. This research relies on a range of functional assays based on BRET technology, with a particular focus on receptor heteromerisation and signaling bias.
• Investigating the biological role of these receptors in both healthy and pathological conditions using transgenic mouse models. This research has both fundamental and applied aspects, aiming to determine whether these receptors could serve as therapeutic targets for specific diseases. Currently, we are studying the role of chemerin, a small chemotactic protein related to chemokines, in the development of autoimmunity using a model of autoimmune uveitis. This research is carried out in collaboration with the ophthalmology department of Saint-Pierre Hospital (Prof. F. Willermain).