IGBMC : Institut de la Génétique et de la Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire

• Researchers

  Mei LI

• PhD Students

  Beatriz GERMAN FALCON

  Pierre MARSCHALL

  Justine SEGAUD

• Master

  Pierre MEYER

Functional genomics and cancer

Pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases

The conceptual focus of inflammatory diseases has shifted to epithelium (e.g. skin, airway and gut), which besides provides a physical barrier, also plays active roles in initiating and maintaining the inflammatory responses. Our studies from the last years have established the key role of epithelium-derived cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in pathogenesis of atopic diseases including atopic dermatitis and asthma. Moreover, TSLP also emerges as a critical player widely implicated in various inflammatory pathologies, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, autoimmunity and cancer. The goals of our research are to investigate how TSLP expression is dysregulated in pathogenic contexts, to decode the complex cellular and molecular networks driven by TSLP in the inflammatory response, and to explore how such networks are implicated in pathogenesis of a variety of inflammatory diseases notably atopic diseases and cancer. To achieve these goals, we utilize integrated approaches of mouse genetic, pathophysiology-relevant mouse models, cellular and molecular biology, as well as systems biology. Based on the acquired knowledge, we also conduct collaborative studies with clinical researchers, with the ultimate goal to develop new biomarkers and therapeutic/prevention strategies for human inflammatory diseases.

• Current projects

  • Investigating how TSLP expression is dysregulated in pathogenic contexts
  • Decoding cellular and molecular networks driven by TSLP in the inflammatory response
  • Exploring how TSLP-driven networks are implicated in pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases
  • Translating the acquired knowledge into new biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases
  
  

• Collaborations

• Prizes/Awards

  • Mei LI - Joint USIAS/FRIAS Fellowship 2013 - Institut d'études Avancées de l'Université de Strasbourg & Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies - 2013
  • Mei LI - Foundation Simone and Cino del Duca Prize - Institut de France - 2012
  • Mei LI - Prix de la Société Française d'Allergologie - Société Française d'Allergologie - 2012

• News

  • Jan. 24, 2019 - Mechanistic insight to a therapy of psoriasis
  • March 15, 2016 - A breakthrough in understanding the mechanisms of inflammatory skin diseases
  • Nov. 28, 2013 - Towards a better understanding of Th2 immune response in allergic diseases

• Publications

  • Chromatin remodellers Brg1 and Bptf are required for normal gene expression and progression of oncogenic Braf-driven mouse melanoma.

    Laurette P(1), Coassolo S(1), Davidson G(1), Michel I(1), Gambi G(1), Yao W(1), Sohier P(2)(3)(4), Li M(1), Mengus G(1), Larue L(2)(3)(4), Davidson I(5)(6).

    Cell Death Differ May 7, 2019 .

  • Disrupting the IL-36 and IL-23/IL-17 loop underlies the efficacy of calcipotriol and corticosteroid therapy for psoriasis.

    German B(1)(2)(3)(4), Wei R(1)(2)(3)(4), Hener P(1)(2)(3)(4), Martins C(5), Ye T(1)(2)(3)(4), Gottwick C(6), Yang J(6), Seneschal J(5), Boniface K(5), Li M(1)(2)(3)(4).

    JCI Insight Jan. 24, 2019 ; 4:123390 .

  • Treatment of MCPT8DTR mice with high- or low-dose diphtheria toxin leads to differential depletion of basophils and granulocyte-macrophage progenitors.

    El Hachem C(1), Hener P(1), Kirstetter P(1), Li J(1), Chan S(1), Li M(1).

    Eur J Immunol May 2018 ; 48:861-873 .

  • Experimental atopic dermatitis depends on IL-33R signaling via MyD88 in dendritic cells.

    Li C(1,)(2), Maillet I(1), Mackowiak C(1), Viala C(1), Di Padova F(3), Li M(4,)(5,)(6), Togbe D(7), Quesniaux V(1), Lai Y(8), Ryffel B(1,)(9).

    Cell Death Dis April 6, 2017 ; 8:e2735 .

  • Similarities and differences in the transcriptional control of expression of the mouse TSLP gene in skin epidermis and intestinal epithelium.

    Ganti KP(1,)(2,)(3), Mukherji A(1,)(2,)(3), Surjit M(1,)(2,)(3,)(4), Li M(1,)(2), Chambon P(5,)(2,)(3).

    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Feb. 7, 2017 ; 114:E951-E960 .

  • Counterregulation between thymic stromal lymphopoietin- and IL-23-driven immune axes shapes skin inflammation in mice with epidermal barrier defects.

    Li J(1), Leyva-Castillo JM(1), Hener P(1), Eisenmann A(1), Zaafouri S(2), Jonca N(2), Serre G(2), Birling MC(3), Li M(4).

    J Allergy Clin Immunol Jul 2016 ; 138:150-161 .

  • Thymic stromal lymphopoietin and atopic diseases La cytokine Thymic Stromal LymphoPoietin (TSLP) et les maladies atopiques

    Leyva-Castillo,J.M. Li M.

    Revue Française d'Allergologie 2014 2014 ; 54:364-376 .

  • Current evidence of epidermal barrier dysfunction and thymic stromal lymphopoietin in the atopic march.

    Li M(1).

    Eur Respir Rev Sep 2014 ; 23:292-8 .

  • MicroRNA-146a alleviates chronic skin inflammation in atopic dermatitis through suppression of innate immune responses in keratinocytes.

    Rebane A(1), Runnel T(2), Aab A(3), Maslovskaja J(3), Rückert B(4), Zimmermann M(4), Plaas M(5), Kärner J(3), Treis A(4), Pihlap M(6), Haljasorg U(6), Hermann H(6), Nagy N(7), Kemeny L(7), Erm T(8), Kingo K(9), Li M(10), Boldin MP(11), Akdis CA(4).

    J Allergy Clin Immunol Oct 2014 ; 134:836-847 .

  • Skin thymic stromal lymphopoietin initiates Th2 responses through an orchestrated immune cascade.

    Leyva-Castillo JM(1), Hener P, Michea P, Karasuyama H, Chan S, Soumelis V, Li M.

    Nat Commun 2013 ; 4:2847 .

  See all publications=>

• Job opportunities

  • Post Doc - Equipe M. Li (H/F)

• Alumni

• Videos

• Thesis subjects

  • Decoding Cellular And Molecular Mechanisms Of Skin Allergic Sensitization In The Atopic March (H/F)