L’huître creuse Crassostrea gigas est un mollusque hermaphrodite alternatif dont le cycle dereproduction est annuel. Sa gamétogenèse est soutenue par des réserves énergétiques, stockées dansun tissu conjonctif de réserve entourant la gonade. Des travaux antérieurs ont montré l’implication dusystème insuline dans ce processus liant étroitement alimentation, énergie stockée et gamétogenèse.Le fonctionnement des étapes précoces de gamétogenèse reste encore méconnu chez l’huître. Cetravail a permis d’identifier les cellules germinales souches (GSC) et les progéniteurs potentiels en sebasant sur une approche d’histologie quantitative couplée au marquage des cellules germinales par unanticorps homologie anti-Oyvlg (Oyster vasa-like gene). Certains éléments constitutionnels de la nichegerminale ont également été identifiés, notamment la présence d’une cellule somatique associée à lacellule germinale souche potentielle qui présente un marquage par un anticorps hétérologue anti-BMP2/4. En amont de l’étude concernant la régulation des étapes précoces de gamétogenèse par lesvoies des insulines, le criblage in silico des bases de données a permis d’identifier des ligands, unrécepteur et de nombreux effecteurs du signal insuline conservés chez C. gigas. Six IRPs (InsulinRelated Peptides) ont été caractérisés ce qui a permis de retracer l’histoire évolutive des IRPs chez lesmollusques. D’après leur profil d’expression en qPCR et HIS, Cg-mip123 et Cg-ilp sont susceptiblesd’être impliqués dans le contrôle de la reproduction. Ces IRPs peuvent se lier à un récepteur CIR (C.gigas Insulin Receptor) dont la séquence complète a été décrite. Les acteurs des voies de signalisationde l’insuline sont également conservés chez l’huître et exprimés dans la gonade. Pour aller plus loin surle rôle de ces IRPs dans les étapes précoces de gamétogenèse, un conditionnement alimentaire (à jeunvs alimentés en Isochrysis galbana) a été réalisé sur des huîtres en première gamétogenèse. Lesrésultats de ce conditionnement montrent que l’apport nutritif augmente la différenciation des GSCainsi que les proliférations goniales. L’implication du signal insuline dans ce contrôle devra êtreprécisée. / The Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas is an alternative hermaphrodite mollusc with an annualreproduction cycle. Its gametogenesis is supported by energy reserves, store in a conjunctive storagetissue surrounding the gonad. Previous studies have shown the insulin system involvement in thisprocess closely connecting diet, energy reserves and gametogenesis. The functioning of earlygametogenetic stages stays unknown in the oyster. This work allows the identification of putative germstem cells (GSC) et progenitors on the basis of histological quantitative approach combined with agerm cells labelling by homologous antibody against Oyvlg (Oyster vasa-like gene). The maincomponents of the germinal niche have also been identified including a somatic cell, associated to theputative germ stem cell, with a heterologous antibody against BMP2/4 labelling. Above the study ofthe early gametogenetic stages regulation by insulin signalling, the genomic and transcriptomic-widescreening allows the identification of ligands, receptor et several effectors conserved in C. gigas. SixIRPs (Insulin Related Peptides) have been characterized which inform about the evolutionary history ofmolluscan IRPs. According to the expression profiles, in qPCR and ISH, Cg-mip123 and Cg-ilp may beinvolved in the reproduction process. These IRPs are able to bind the CIR (C. gigas Insulin Receptor)receptor whose sequence has been described. The insulin signalling effectors are also conserved in C.gigas and expressed in the gonad. To better understand the involvement of IRPs in the early stagesfunctioning, a food conditioning (unfed vs fed with Isochrysis galbana) has been done with oysters intheir first gametogenesis. The results showed that nutrient intake increases GSC and gonial mitosis.The involvement of insulin signalling has to be clarified.

Selbstreproduktion ist eines der Kennzeichen aller lebenden Organismen. Der Zellzyklus dient der Selbstreproduktion in einzelligen Organismen. In mehrzelligen Organismen ist der Zellzyklus darüber hinaus für andere lebenswichtige Prozesse, einschließlich Immunreaktionen, unerlässlich. In dieser Arbeit wird eine Methode entwickelt mit der die Dauer der Zellzyklus Phasen bestimmt werden kann. Kenntnis über die Zellzyklusphasendauer ermöglicht vorherzusagen, wie schnell eine Population von proliferierenden Zellen wachsen wird, oder wie viele neue Zellen pro Stunde in einem Gewebe geboren werden. Im Kapitel 1 dieser Arbeit wird ein Zellzyklusmodell aufgestellt und mit experimentellen Bromdesoxyuridin Daten verglichen. Die Analyse zeigt, dass das Modell gut die experimentelle Kinetik beschreibt, hebt jedoch auch hervor dass einige der Parameter nicht identifiziert werden können. Dieses Problem wird in Kapitel 2 bearbeitet, wo zwei Ansätze erforscht werden, um den Informationsgehalt der Experimente zu erhöhen. In einem ersten Ansatz wird die Theorie der Versuchsplanung angewendet, um optimale Versuchspläne zu bestimmen. In einem zweiten Ansatz wird das übliche Bromdesoxyuridin Protokoll durch ein zweites Nukleosid erweitert. Beide Methoden verbessern in silico erheblich die Genauigkeit und Präzision der Abschätzungen. Im dritten Kapitel wird die Methodik in der Analyse der Keimzentrumsreaktion angewendet. Ein erheblicher Zufluss von Zellen in die dunkle Zone von Keimzentren wird vorhergesagt, und die Ansicht einer extrem schellen Zellteilung im Keimzentrum erscheint in dem Modell als ein Artefakt der Zellmigration. / Self-reproduction is one of the distinguishing marks of living organisms. The cell cycle is the underlying process by which self-reproduction is accomplished in single-celled organisms. In multi-cellular organisms, the cell cycle is in addition indispensable for other vital processes, including immune reactions. In this thesis a method is developed that allows to estimate the time it takes for a dividing cells to complete the CC phases. Knowledge of the CC phase durations allows to predict, for example, how fast a population of proliferating cells will grow in size, or how many new cells are born per hour in a given tissue. In Chapter 1 of this thesis, a cell cycle model with delays and variability in the completion times of each phase is developed. Analytical solutions are derived to describe a common experimental technique used for cell cycle analysis, namely pulse labeling with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Comparison with data shows that the model reproduces closely measured cell cycle kinetics, however also reveals that some of the parameter values cannot be identified. This problem is addressed in Chapter 2. In a first approach, the framework of D-optimal experimental designs is employed, in order to choose optimal sampling schemes. In a second approach, the prevailing protocol with a single nucleoside is modified by adding a second nucleoside analog pulse. Both methods are tested and the results suggest that experimental design can significantly improve parameter estimation. In Chapter 3, the model is applied to the germinal center reaction. A substantial influx of cells into the dark zone of germinal centers is predicted. Moreover the wide-held view of rapid proliferation in germinal centers, appears, under this model, as an artifact of cell migration.

This study consists of two pieces of work investigating haematological malignancies; Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) and Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL). Firstly, Pre-B ALL represents the most common paediatric malignancy and despite increasingly improved outcomes for patients, ~ 20% of all patients diagnosed with ALL relapse. Activating mutations in the RAS pathway are common (~50%) and result in hyperactivation of the MAPK pathway. I identified Erk negative feedback control via DUSP6 to be crucial for NRASG12D-mediated pre-B cell transformation and investigated its potential as a therapeutic target. I showed that a small molecule inhibitor of DUSP6 (BCI) selectively induced cell death in patient-derived pre-B ALL cells; with a higher sensitivity observed in relapse pre-B ALL. I also discovered that a high level of Erk activity is required for proliferation of normal pre-B cells, but dispensable in leukemic pre-B ALL cells. In addition, I found that human B cell malignancies can be grouped into three categories that fundamentally differ in their ability to control Erk signalling strength. Secondly, DLBCL is the most common haematological malignancy and although potentially curable with chemotherapy, 40% of patients still succumb from their disease. Recent exome sequencing studies have identified hundreds of genetic alterations but, for most, their contribution to disease, or their importance as therapeutic targets, remains uncertain. I optimised a novel approach to screen the functional importance of these mutations. This was achieved by reconstituting non-malignant, primary, human germinal centre B cells (GC B cells) with combinations of wildtype and mutant genes to recapitulate the genetic events of DLBCL. When injected into immunodeficient mice, these oncogene-transduced GC B cells gave rise to tumours that closely resemble human DLBCL, reinforcing the biological relevance of this system. To screen potential tumour suppressor mutations in this system in a high throughput fashion, I developed a lymphoma-focused CRISPR library of 692 genes recurrently altered in B cell lymphomas. These experiments identified GNA13 as an unexpectedly potent tumour suppressor in human GC B cells and provided new understanding to its mechanism of action. These findings provide novel understanding of the complexity of oncogenic mechanisms in human B cell malignancies.

No description available.

Mon travail, lors de ma thèse, avait pour but d’étudier la différentiation des lymphocytes Tfh, ainsi que leur fonction et leur régulation dans la pathogenèse de la DA. Pour cela, j’ai utilisé un modèle murin précédemment établi au sein de notre laboratoire consistant en l’application topique de MC903 (un analogue de la vitamine D3) induisant la production de TSLP par les kératinocytes et, par conséquence, la réponse immunitaire Th2 et la pathogenèse de la DA. mon travail doctoral s’est porté sur la différentiation des lymphocytes Tfh, leur production cytokinique ainsi que la formation des centres germinatifs dans le contexte d’un modèle murin de DA induite par le MC903. Mes études ont démontré un rôle critique joué par TSLP dans la réponse Tfh et ont exploré le rôle potentiellement joué par les cellules dendritiques langerine+ et la signalisation OX40L dans le développement des réponses Tfh et de type 2. Ceci nous a permis d’approfondir nos connaissances concernant les mécanismes sous-tendant la réponse immunitaire de type 2 dans la pathogenèse de la DA. Dans la deuxième partie de ma thèse, nous avons examiné le rôle de MC903 dans la régulation de l’inflammation due au psoriasis, en utilisant un modèle de psoriasis induit par l’Aldara. Nous avons montré que MC903 inhibe l’axe 23/IL-17/IL-22 chez les souris souffrant de psoriasis. De plus, cette inhibition semblait être dose-dépendante. Nous avons en outre exploré le rôle de TSLP et VDR dans la médiation de cet effet dû au MC903. / My thesis aimed at studying the Tfh cell differentiation, function and regulation in AD pathogenesis. To this aim, I employed our previously established AD mouse model in which MC903 (a vitamin D analog) topical treatment on the skin induces TSLP production bykeratinocytes, promotes Th2 cell response and drives the pathogenesis of AD. my thesis work investigated Tfh cell differentiation, its cytokine expression and germinal center formation using MC903-induced AD mouse model. By exploring the role of TSLP,Langerin+ DCs and OX40L signaling in Tfh cell differentiation and regulation, my study provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the type 2 immune response in AD pathogenesis. In the second part of my study, we examined the role of MC903 in regulating the psoriatic inflammation using Aldara-induced psoriasis model. We showed that MC903 inhibited IL-23/IL-17/IL-22 axis in mouse psoriasis. Moreover, this inhibition exhibited a dose-dependent manner. We further explored the role of TSLP and VDR in mediating such effect of MC903.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The process of meiotic resumption in oocytes, arrested since fetal life, and the expansion of compact layers of cumulus cells is triggered by intrafollicular mediators stimulated by LH. These events are extremely complex. In mice, among system components of natriuretic peptides (NP), only the C-type NP (CNP) has a role to inhibit the resumption of meiosis. However, little is know about the function of NPs on resumption of meiosis, nuclear maturation and cumulus expansion in monovular species. The aim of this study was to characterize the natriuretic peptide system, studing its role in the resumption of meiosis and cumulus expansion. We also proposed a new model to study cumulus expansion. Initially, we detected the presence of mRNA for the ANP, CNP, natriuretic peptide receptor 1 (NPR-1), NPR-2 and NPR-3 in the cumulus cells and NPR-2 mRNA in the oocyte. Using an in vitro model, in which the oocytes are arrested in germinal vesicle (VG) by the action of forskolin (100 μM), we demonstrated that ANP, BNP and CNP, alone or in combination, induce resumption of meiosis after 12 h of maturation. In another experiments, we observed that the concentration of 100 μM forskolin inhibited cumulus expansion stimulated by FSH for12 h, which was reversed by adding ANP, BNP and CNP in the COC culture system. Thus, we demonstrated for the first time the localization of mRNA for the NP system in COCs. Furthermore, we found that the ANP, BNP and CNP are likely mediators of LH to induce meiotic resumption and cumulus expansion in monovuluar species, using the bovine as the animal model. / O processo de retomada da meiose no oócito, bloqueada desde a vida fetal, e a expansão de compactas camadas de células do cumulus que o envolvem é desencadeado por mediadores intrafoliculares estimulados pelo LH, sendo eventos extremamente complexos. Em camundongos, dentre os componentes do sistema peptídeos natriuréticos (NP) somente o NP tipo C (CNP) apresenta função, bloqueando a retomada da meiose. Entretanto, em espécie monovular, o conhecimento sobre a ação dos NP, na maturação nuclear de oócitos e expansão do cumulus, é extremamente escasso. O objetivo do presente estudo foi caracterizar o sistema peptídeo natriurético, demonstrar sua função na retomada da meiose e expansão do cumulus, além de propor um novo modelo para estudo da expansão do cumulus. Inicialmente, demonstramos a presença de RNAm para ANP, CNP, receptor peptídeo natriurético 1 (NPR-1), NPR-2 e NPR-3 nas células do cumulus, sendo que no oócito somente foi detectado RNAm do NPR-2. Utilizando um modelo in vitro, no qual os oócitos permanecem bloqueados em vesícula germitava (VG) por ação do forskolin (100 μM), demonstramos que os ANP, BNP e CNP, isoladamente ou em associação, induzem o reinício da meiose após 12 h de maturação. Em outros experimentos, observamos que a concentração de 100 μM de forskolin inibiu, por 12 h, a expansão das células do cumulus estimulada por FSH e que o ANP, BNP e CNP revertem o efeito inibitório do forskolin sobre a expansão do cumulus. Dessa forma, demonstramos pela primeira vez a localização de RNAm para o sistema NP em CCOs. Além disso, foi demonstrado que em espécie monovuluar, utilizando o bovino como modelo animal, os peptídeos natriuréticos (ANP, BNP e CNP) apresentam função de mediadores intrafoliculares do LH, na qual estimulam a retomada da meiose e expansão do cumulus.

No description available.

No description available.

Antibodies passively administered together with their specific antigen can enhance or suppress the specific antibody response. This phenomenon is known as antibody feedback regulation. Whether this modulation causes up- or downregulation of the antibody response depends both on the antibody isotype and the antigen used. IgG antibodies passively administered together with particulate antigens, e.g. erythrocytes, can completely prevent the induction of an antibody response to the antigen. The suppressive capacity of IgG has been routinely used in the clinic since the 1960’s in RhD-prophylaxis to prevent hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Although studied for decades, the underlying mechanism of IgG-suppression has remained elusive. The main focus of this thesis has been to elucidate the mechanism behind IgG-suppression of antibody responses in vivo in mouse models using intravenous immunization with specific IgG together with native or haptenated sheep red blood cells, SRBC. We show that IgG-suppression of IgM and long-term serum IgG-responses operates independently of activating FcγRI, III, IV, or the inhibitory FcγRIIB, thus confirming and extending previous findings. Moreover, we demonstrate for the first time that C1q, C3 and CR1/2 are dispensable for IgG-suppression of antibody responses. These findings strongly argue against the involvement of Fc-dependent mechanisms as the explanation for IgG-suppression. Interestingly, GC formation occurs in IgG-suppressed mice although the antibody response to surface SRBC epitopes are completely suppressed. The data suggests that these GCs develop in response to intracellular SRBC epitopes as well as to the passively administered suppressive IgG. Moreover, we demonstrate that passively administered IgG suppresses several parameters of an antibody/B cell response including antigen specific GC and non-GC B cells, extra-follicular antibody secreting cells, long-lived plasma cells and induction of immunological memory. Before the onset of the present study, two mechanisms appeared compatible with the majority of experimental findings: IgG-mediated antigen clearance and epitope masking. Herein we show that the contribution of IgG-mediated antigen clearance is negligible and that suppression of IgG-responses is strictly epitope specific. This provides compelling evidence that a very important mechanism underlying IgG-suppression is epitope masking.

Notre équipe a précédemment démontré que l'Interleukine (IL)-24 une cytokine de la famille de l'IL-10 a un effet cytostatique voire cytotoxique sur des cellules B normales ou leucémiques mises préalablement en cycle mais non sur des cellules quiescentes. L'IL-24 inhibe également la différenciation plasmocytaire des cellules B humaines du centre germinatif dans un modèle de différentiation in vitro. Nous avons utilisé ce modèle pour analyser pour la première fois le transcriptome de cellules B stimulées ou non par IL-24 au bout de 6 et 36 h. Plusieurs transcrits impliqués dans le métabolisme et la réplication de l'ADN sont inhibés précocement à l'exception d'IGF-1 qui est stimulé. L'IGF1 ayant été décrit comme une molécule de survie des cellules B ou pré-B, nous avons analysé son effet biologique et démontré qu'il a au contraire un rôle proapoptotique à doses physiologiques. En revanche, l'IL-24 induit l'expression plus tardive des gènes de la voie mitochondriale de la mort cellulaire programmée (MCP). Cet effet est également retrouvé dans des LLC « IgVH mutées » ou non mais avec une cinétique distincte des cellules B normales. Au total, dans des cellules activées au préalable, l'IL-24 induit séquentiellement un blocage précoce du cycle cellulaire suivi d'une apoptose. D'autres gènes potentiellement importants dans la synapse immune ainsi que dans la régulation de l'immunité innée sont décrits et suggèrent que l'IL-24 a un rôle immunologique particulier au-delà de son effet cytostatique et potentiellement anti-tumoral / We have previously shown that Interleukin(IL)-24 a class-II cytokine of the IL-10 family has cytostatic and cytotoxic properties on normal and malignant human B-cells previously engaged into the cell cycle, but not on quiescent B-cells. IL-24 also inhibits the differentiation of germinal center B-cells in plasma cells in an in vitro model; the later was used to compare for the first time the transcriptome of B-cells cultured or not with IL-24 for 6 and 36h. Several "early" transcripts involved in DNA metabolism and replication were inhibited whereas that of Igf1 a molecule described as a B-cell growth factor was induced. We show herein that IgF1 has instead a proapoptotic role on B-cells at physiological concentrations. In contrast, several genes of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway were stimulated after 36h. This expression pattern was also found in CLL cells whether they were "IgVH mutated" or "unmutated", albeit with distinct kinetics from normal B-cells. In addition several genes belonging to the immune synapse and innate immunity were regulated by IL-24. These results disclose additional, possibly immunoregulatory properties, for IL-24 than its already described cytostatic and potentially anti-tumoral effects