HIP/PAP et Protection du foie

Equipe

Responsable : Jamila FAIVRE, MCU-PH

Marion DARNAUD, Ingénieur de Recherche

François FAITOT, Etudiant en Master

Fataneh FATEMI, Etudiante en Master

Michèle GIGOU, Assistant-Ingénieur

Claire LACOSTE, Ingénieur de recherche, Doctorante

Nicolas MONIAUX, Chargé de recherche Inserm

Haiyan SONG, Post-doctorante

Eric VIBERT, Chirurgien, Doctorant

Thématique de recherche

The HepatoBiliary Centre is a reference centre for patients suffering with severe acute liver failure. Since 1986, when the liver transplantation program for fulminant hepatitis was implemented, the HepatoBiliary Centre have developed expertise in the management of patients with severe liver failure. Large data and specimen collections have been built over time constituting a valuable study material about liver regeneration. The aim of the research program “Liver Regeneration” is to study the mechanistic networks involved in the hepatoprotection response to liver injury, characterize cell populations participating in liver regeneration during severe acute and fulminant hepatitis, and develop therapeutic and diagnostic innovations based on our preclinical studies.

The studies performed by U785 have made it possible to demonstrate that a C-type lectin, called HIP/PAP, is a potent liver paracrine growth factor harboring mitogenic, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant, and survival properties. It favors liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy and has a preventive effect against acetominophen- or Jo2- (an agonist of Fas/CD95) induced fulminant hepatitis in transgenic mice overexpressing in the liver. Injection of the recombinant HIP/PAP protein 1 hour before acetominophen- or Jo2-intoxication to wild type mice had a clear preventive effect against death. We initiated ongoing researches on (i) the protein partners and receptor of HIP/PAP using chromatography/proteomics and two-yeast hybrid screening in order to cast light on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of HIP/PAP-mediated liver protection and recovery; (ii) the liver cell types that are activated by HIP/PAP during regeneration subsequent to liver failure, in particular the adult progenitor liver cells.