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Beyond the Frontiers of Immunology
The survival of living beings depends on their ability to develop defense mechanisms against the dangers present in their environment. These protective mechanisms involve functions of both the nervous system and the immune system, two systems generally considered autonomous entities with their own independent functions. Recent studies suggest that connections exist between these two major systems, but the functional consequences of these interactions and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Our laboratory explores the regulatory role of the nervous system on the immune response and dissects the intimate mechanisms of this regulation.
Following tissue injury or infection, an inflammatory response develops and the nervous and immune systems are jointly activated. Activation of the nervous system is accompanied by the production of mediators both systemically (in the bloodstream) and locally (by the neurons themselves). Some of these molecules are capable of modulating the activity of immune cells.

Nous étudions le rôle ce ces interactions neuro-immunes dans différentes pathologies telles que le choc septique, des infections virales, le cancer ou des lésions de la peau. Plusieurs aspects de ces régulations neuro-immunes sont disséqués:
– the role of stress hormones, produced by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (or HPA) pathway and by the sympathetic nervous system.
– le rôle immunomodulateur des neurones sensoriels impliqués dans la sensibilité à la douleur
– Le rôle immunomodulateur des neurones sensoriels impliqués dans le toucher léger
Afin d’identifier la nature de ces signaux et disséquer l’impact physiologique et fonctionnel de ces régulations, une série de modèles de souris génétiquement modifiées sont étudiés en collaboration avec des chercheurs spécialistes en Neurosciences.
This work aims to open new avenues of interdisciplinary research in order to develop a more integrated vision of the host response against pathogens and, in turn, contribute to the discovery of new therapeutic targets.
News

Following the article published in La Provence on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, the work of Réjane Rua, Inserm team leader […]

On the occasion of International Immunology Day 2025, under the theme “Brain and Immunity”, the Immunology Center of […]
Projects
Project: T2DRGMacPain Obesity is a major factor in metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes. Dysfunction of […]

Nerve fibers are increasingly emerging as key players in the tumor microenvironment, capable of modulating […]

The host response to pathogens is orchestrated by the immune system and the nervous system, both present in […]

We have demonstrated that the neurokine TAFA4, produced by sensory neurons in the skin, can promote tissue repair […]

Beyond the pain perception processes that are induced in the event of injury or infection of the […]

Les macrophages résidents des tissus jouent un rôle fondamental dans l’homéostasie tissulaire et sa régénération après lésion. Dans un modèle […]
