In vitro predictive models of particle-induced granulomas

03:113 years ago

Léa Hiéronimus is a PhD student at the Louvain centre for Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology (LTAP, UCLouvain, Belgium). Léa is working in François Huaux's team, where we are trying to better understand how certain inhaled particles exert their toxicity. The goal is to better diagnose and treat individuals exposed to particles, but also to identify the particle characteristics which induce, or do not induce, toxic effects. For this, Léa studies a very particular cell type which seems to be involved in particle responses. Indeed, we have found the specific accumulation of the innate subset of B-lymphocytes called “B-1 lymphocytes”, which occurred during granuloma formation/maturation induced by inhaled particles in mice. According to the literature, this accumulation can be attributed to their migration from mesothelial cavities such as the peritoneum, acting as a reservoir.
In addition to conventional particles-induced granulomas, which formation rely on macrophages responses, we developed new models relying on B-1 lymphocytes. Indeed, B-1 lymphocytes show a unique clustering property, that is not observed using macrophages or other subsets of B-lymphocytes (conventional B-2 lymphocytes) as purified B-1 lymphocytes regroup granuloma-inducing particles (carbon nanotubes CNT7, crocidolite asbestos, micrometric silica MinUSil and MSS, cobalt oxide,…) but not carbon black, a particle not-inducing granuloma in vivo. Additionally, we developed a model aiming to recapitulate the lung after B-1 lymphocytes migration and found that macrophages and epithelial cells (MHS and LA4 cell lines) where grouped to form spheroids when in coculture with B-1 and not B-2 lymphocytes.
These models will serve as tools to identify new mediators of granuloma formation, which could serve as biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets for exposed individuals. On the other hand, we aim to propose new bioassays for the prediction of granuloma-inducing materials using alternative models.

Lab website: https://uclouvain.be/en/research-institutes/irec/ltap
Contact: lea.hieronimus@uclouvain.be

Related

TPI.tv: improving science through animal-free innovations and research
TPI.tv videos
InnovationPolicyBeginner

TPI.tv: improving science through animal-free innovations and research

Introducing TPI.tv : a video platform by experts striving to improve science through animal-free innovations and research.
01:263 years ago
Five simple tricks for making your own video for TPI.tv
TPI.tv videos

Five simple tricks for making your own video for TPI.tv

This video shows you how to make a video yourself. It's really not that difficult! See also the submission page (https://tpi.tv/submit-a-video) for additional information.
01:234 years ago
RISKHUNT3R project – interview by TOXstreams
Projects and initiatives
HealthToxicologyIn vitro

RISKHUNT3R project – interview by TOXstreams

Many studies are focused on finding the next best tool or test to assess the risk associated with chemical exposure. That is all well and good, but even the perfect assay needs to be accepted by regulators before seeing the light of the day. And how do we do that? The guests in this webinar have some ideas on that as principal investigators of the EU project RISK HUNT3R. Prof. Bob van de Water, Dr Mirjam Luijten and Dr Andrew White explain what RISK HUNT3R is doing, what next generation risk assessment means and why it is so important. Click on the link in the video to watch the whole interview.
00:2127 hours ago
Ecotoxicology explained - interview by TOXstreams
Expert interviews
HealthToxicology

Ecotoxicology explained - interview by TOXstreams

Toxicology is a complicated area where you have to figure out if a chemical is safe for the entire human population? Well, some researchers in this field go even beyond, and instead of studying the safety of substances on “just” people, they focus on any living being on the whole planet. In this TOXstreams interview ecotoxicologists Dr Adam Lillicrap from the Norwegian Institute for Water Research and Dr Kristin Schirmer from the Eawag Science and Technology and co-founder of aQuaTox Solutions GmbH Solutions will explain what and how they do this. Click on the link in the video to watch the whole interview.
00:2127 hours ago