Inflammation, Infection and Cancer (I2C)
The main goal of our research group is to better understand the immune mechanisms involved in host defense in infectious, inflammatory and malignant diseases through the use of multidisciplinary approaches, with the overall objective of identifying novel targets for diagnostic and therapy.
Our main projects are:
Development of host directed therapies against viral pneumonia:
Viral pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs and represents a major cause of mortality in the world as well as a huge economic burden for the society. The emergence of new zoonotic pathogens (such as SARS-CoV-2) draw attention to the limits of the current antiviral treatment and the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. In this context, we are currently exploiting different approaches to stimulate the recruitment of antiviral immune cells into the airways during pulmonary viral infection.
Mechanisms of immune evasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC):
PDAC is the most prevalent type of pancreatic neoplasm. The lack of early diagnosis and a limited response to treatments make PDAC a highly aggressive deadly cancer. Thus, PDAC is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer–related mortality in the future. The objective of this project is to identify new immune mediators involved in PDAC immune escape.
Main publications
Bénard et al. (2023) IL-3 orchestrates ulcerative colitis pathogenesis by controlling the development and the recruitment of splenic reservoir neutrophils. Cell Rep
Bénard et al. (2023) Interleukin-3 protects against viral pneumonia in sepsis by enhancing plasmacytoid dendritic cell recruitment into the lungs and T cell priming. Front Immunol
Krug et al. (2023)N-glycosylation regulates intrinsic IFN-γ resistance in colorectal cancer: implications for immunotherapy. Gastroenterology
Cho et al. (2022) Electrochemiluminescence in paired signal electrode (ECLipse) enables modular and scalable biosensing. Sci Adv
Hansen et al. (2022) Tumor infiltration with CD20+CD73+ B cells correlates with better outcome in colorectal cancer. Int J Mol Sci
Bénard et al. (2022) Pleural resident macrophages and pleural IRA B cells promote efficient immunity against pneumonia by inducing early pleural space inflammation. Front Immunol
Bénard et al. (2021) Interleukin-3 is a predictive marker for severity and outcome during SARS-CoV-2 infections. Nat Commun
Bénard et al. (2018) B cells producing type I IFN modulate macrophage polarization in tuberculosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med
Lastrucci et al. (2015) Tuberculosis is associated with expansion of a motile, permissive and immunomodulatory CD16(+) monocyte population via the IL-10/STAT3 axis. Cell Res
Bénard et al. (2010) mu-Opioid receptor is induced by IL-13 within lymph nodes from patients with Sézary syndrome. J Invest Dermatol