Régulation de l’inflammation par la neurokine TAFA4 – CIML

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ANTIBAX: Neutralizing antibodies directed against pro-carcinogenic bacteria

IMAGINe – High Risk High Gain IMAGINe (France)

About

We have demonstrated that the neurokine TAFA4, produced by sensory neurons in the skin, can promote tissue repair by directly acting on the anti-inflammatory and pro-repair properties of macrophages (Hoeffel et al., Nature 2021). TAFA4 is capable of inducing IL-10 production by macrophages, but the molecular mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Our project aims to identify the TAFA4 receptor on immune cells and to characterize the activated signaling pathways. We are also exploring in which pathological contexts and in which tissues this molecule is produced.

At the same time, we are evaluating the therapeutic potential of TAFA4 in preclinical models of inflammatory diseases. This work is being carried out in collaboration with Temper Bio, a biotechnology company co-founded by Sophie Ugolini and supported by the start-up studio ArgoBio.

Publications

Hoeffel G, Debroas G, Roger A, Rossignol R, Gouilly J, Laprie C, Chasson L, Barbon PV, Balsamo A, Re..., Sensory neuron-derived TAFA4 promotes macrophage tissue repair functions. Nature 2021 Jun; 594(7861): 94-99.

Feuillet V, Ugolini S, Reynders A, Differential regulation of cutaneous immunity by sensory neuron subsets. Trends Neurosci 2023 Aug; 46(8): 640-653.

Davies AJ, Kim HW, Gonzalez-Cano R, Choi J, Back SK, Roh SE, Johnson E, Gabriac M, Kim MS, Lee J, Le..., Natural Killer Cells Degenerate Intact Sensory Afferents following Nerve Injury. Cell 2019 Feb; 176(4): 716-728.e18.

Filtjens J, Roger A, Quatrini L, Wieduwild E, Gouilly J, Hoeffel G, Rossignol R, Daher C, Debroas G,..., Nociceptive sensory neurons promote CD8 T cell responses to HSV-1 infection. Nat Commun 2021 May; 12(1): 2936.

Crosson T, Bretaud N, Ugolini S, Role of specialized sensory neuron subtypes in modulating peripheral immune responses. Immunity 2025 May; 58(5): 1161-1174.

Roger A, Reynders A, Hoeffel G, Ugolini S, Neuroimmune crosstalk in the skin: a delicate balance governing inflammatory processes. Curr Opin Immunol 2022 Aug; 77(): 102212.

Funding