Current Projects

• Macrophage Dependence Upon Epimorphic Regeneration 
  Submitted by Vineet Agrawal  (University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States) 1/13/2010
  In an adult murine model of digit amputation, we are interested in investigating what role, if any, the immune microenvironment plays in promoting epimorphic regeneration of an amputated phalanx of a digit in a murine hindfoot.



• Regulation of parasitaemia in mice infected with T. b. brucei  
  Submitted by Didier Salmon  (IBMM, Gosselies, Belgium) 1/13/2010
  # n this project, various T. brucei mutants of kinesine that affect the level of parasitaemia in mammalian host are currently being studied in different transgenic mice (nude, uMT, MyD88, ...) by analysis of the cytokine profile (IFgama, IL12, IL10, ...) and we plan to analyze the influence of phagocytic cells upon the reduction of parasitaemia by using the clodronate APC liposome strategy. We would like to perform a pilote experiment with two batches of mice: treated by free-liposomes and treated by clodronate liposomes. The Project is coordonated by Prof. E. Pays (ULB, IBMM, Lab of Molecular Parasitology)



• renal cancer 
  Submitted by alicia cole  (Beatson Institute for Cancer research, glasgow, United Kingdom) 12/1/2010
  investigating the loss of apc deficient cells by macrophage clearance from the kidney



• The role of macrophages in PGE2-dependent tumorigenesis in the stomach 
  Submitted by Masanobu Oshima  (Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Japan, Kanazawa, Japan) 1/10/2010
  We have constructed transgenic mouse model (Gan mice) that develop gastric tumors caused by simultaneous activation of Wnt and PGE2 pathways. In the gastric tumors of Gan mice, macrophages are infiltrated and activated in a PGE-dependent manner. By depleting macrophages by administration of clodronate-liposomes, we will investigate the role of macrophages in gastric tumorigenesis.



• role of macrophages and mast cells in crystal-induced inflammation 
  Submitted by Nathalie Busso  (Centre Hopitalier Universitaire Vaudois , Lausanne, Switzerland) 8/1/2010
  To determine whether infiltrating neutrophils, mast cells or resident macrophages contribute to the inflammatory response to urate and basic calcium phosphate crystals in vivo.



• Role of dendritic cells in respiratory infections 
  Submitted by Alberto Garcia-Quintanilla  (Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States) 6/1/2010
  We are studying the role of dendritic cells in respiratory infections and immune memory using murine gamma herpesvirus 68, RSV, and influenza.
  More: http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/gd/applications/controller.cfm?page=3812&pname=bio&rID=132



• The roles of macrophages in hepatocellular carcinoma 
  Submitted by OSCAR YEUNG  (UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, HONG KONG, HONG KONG, Hong Kong) 6/1/2010
  The significances of tumor associated macrophages(TAM)in tumorgenesis and progression have been well described in many cancers except hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aim to investigate the roles of different macrophage systems including kupffer cell, monocyte derived macrophage and tumor associated macrophage in HCC.



• CpG-Loaded Tumor Cells Generate Potent CD4 T Cell Anti-Tumor Immunity 
  Submitted by Matthew Goldstein  (Stanford University, Stanford, United States) 1/6/2010
  We have designed a whole tumor cell vaccine created by ‘loading’ lymphoma tumor cells with the TLR9 agonist, CpG. These results define a novel whole cell vaccine for generating anti-tumor T cells in vivo. This approach has strong potential for translation to the clinical setting and will be evaluated in an upcoming clinical trial to treat mantle cell lymphoma.



• Influence of Kupffer Cell activation on Sirtuin protein expression. 
  Submitted by Chantal Rivera  (LSU health Sciences Center, shreveport, LA, United States) 5/1/2010
  This project will examine the effects of kupffer cell depletion with clodronate liposome on the expression of Sirtuin 1(SIRT-1). For this purpose, animal models of diet-induced steatohepatitis will be used.



• Role of macrophages in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy 
  Submitted by Bryan Conway  (University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, United Kingdom) 5/1/2010
  Macrophages are thought to contribute toe pathogenesis of both type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy. We plan to selectively deplete macrophages in diabetic mice and rats and to determine the effect on development of hyperglycaemia and nephropathy