Mucosal Immunity Laboratory

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The Mucosal Immunity laboratory, affiliated with the faculty of Biology and Medicine at the University of Lausanne, specialises in innate immunity and epithelial biology.

Mucosal surfaces such as the female genital tract and intestine are lined by a single layer of epithelial cells. Epithelial cells are recognized as important immunoeffector cells and are uniquely positioned to serve both as a barrier and as a direct line of communication between the immune system and the external environment. In their normal state, mucosal surfaces are exposed to high concentrations of foreign antigens, while at the same time, intimately associated with the immune system via subepithelial lymphoid tissue. If the microbes survive, proliferate and reach sites not normally colonised by microbial flora, the influx of immunocytes and the onset of inflammation will ensue as occurs in many mucosal inflammatory states.  It is thus imperative to more fully understand bacterial-epithelial interactions and the contribution of endogenous anti-inflammatory molecules to immune processes and host defence.

Studies in this laboratory focus on further understanding the expression and function of protective molecules produced in the mucosa, in particular antimicrobial proteins and peptides, such as Bactericidal/Permeability-increasing protein (BPI), as depicted in the figure below. For this we utilise clinical samples as well as cultured cell lines.

We are also investigating transcriptional responses to hormones and prostaglandins as these mediators play an important role in physiological processes in the female genital tract.

Additional research interests pursued in the laboratory include signalling pathways activated by commensal and pathogenic bacteria in mucosal epithelial cells and how microorganisms modulate post translational modification pathways.

A variety of cellular and molecular biological approaches are employed.

We utilise nearby university proteomics, gene array and microscopy/imaging core facilities. Active collaborations with other institutes such as Harvard Medical School, The University of Colorado, Denver and University College Dublin are maintained.

^{(A) Gram-negative bacteria, bearing pro-inflammatory LPS, can proliferate at mucosal surfaces. (B) Lipoxin A4 (LXA4), generated by transcellular synthesis involving neutrophils and epithelial cells, increases expression of epithelial BPI which exerts both antimicrobial and endotoxin-neutralizing activity. BPI can co-localise with TLR4 intracellularly upon stimulation of epithelial cells with LPS. (C) BPI also serves to enhance delivery of Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane blebs to dendritic cells, thereby enhancing MHC II presentation and up-regulation of co-stimulatory molecules.}

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How to contact us:

Mucosal Immunity Laboratory,
Dept. of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Medical Genetics,
Central University Hospital of Vaud (CHUV),
Av. Pierre Decker 2, 1011 Lausanne,
Switzerland.

Email: Geraldine.Canny@chuv.ch

Tel. : +41 21 314 1182 (Office)
Tel. : +41 21 314 3169 (Lab.)
Fax : +41 21 314 4471

Dernière modification le 01.09.2008