Team 4 - Thierry Tordjmann

Biliary homeostasis and liver repair


Research activities

1. Biliary homeostasis and liver repair

Supervision: Dr Thierry Tordjmann

Even though liver regeneration capacity is huge, tissue repair during chronic injury (biliary or non-biliary etiologies) can lead to hepatic fibrosis. Importantly, after injury and during liver repair, liver functions have to be maintained to fulfill the peripheral demand. This is particularly critical for bile secretion, which has to be finely tuned in order to preserve liver parenchyma from BA-induced injury. However, mechanisms allowing the liver to maintain biliary homeostasis during repair after injury are not completely understood. Our studies are focused on mutual relationships between biliary homeostasis and liver repair. Particular attention is paid to BA and their receptors (TGR5) as potential targets at crucial regulatory crossroads. To this end, we handle in vivo murine models of experimental BA overload, in vitro studies of hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, as well as human patients liver samples (cells and tissues) analysis.

Figure: Schematic representation of the different TGR5-mediated mechanisms of hepato-protection. The integrity of the blood-biliary barrier (BBB), which separates blood from bile, is essential in both physiological and pathological conditions. TGR5 stimulation promotes: - cholangiocyte proliferation and - barrier function by reinforcing cholangiocyte tight junctions. TGR5 regulates chloride and bicarbonate transport in bile, reducing BA protonation and protecting liver parenchyma from BA cytotoxicity. TGR5 have physiological impact on GB functions, possibly including BA reabsorption reported as the cholecysto-hepatic shunt, restricting the amount of toxic secondary BA. TGR5-mediated BA signalling reduces hepatic vascular tone and portal pressure, resulting from sinusoidal vasodilatation (adapted from Merlen et al., Liver Int 2020;40(5):1005-1015).

2. Pathophysiology and treatment of genetic cholestasis

Supervision: Pr Emmanuel Jacquemin

Chronic cholestatic liver diseases can have genetic origins, due to molecular defects of ABC transporters localized at the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes. Indeed, genetic variations of ABCB11/BSEP (bile acid transporter) and ABCB4/MDR3 (phospholipid transporter) are implicated in rare and severe forms of genetic cholestasis named progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis types 2 and 3, respectively. These diseases are characterized by chronic cholestasis, icterus and moderate to severe pruritus, and they mostly evolve to liver failure, thus requiring liver transplantation. The aim of our studies is to identify new molecules able to correct the molecular defects of the mutated canalicular ABC transporters (expression, traffic or function), in the frame of genetic cholestasis. As a first line of research, we use cell models expressing the defective transporters in order to identify molecules able to rescue the defective canalicular ABC transporters. Then, we will validate the best molecules at a preclinical stage in humanized mouse models mimicking the human pathologies (KO mice expressing the mutated human canalicular transporters by viral infection) before considering their valorisation and transfer to the clinic.

Figure: Schematic representation of the classes of genetic variants of canalicular ABC transporters. The classes were determined on the basis of the deficit identified in cell models. Class I corresponds to nonsense variants (premature stop codons) leading to extremely reduced or even no protein expression. Class II, III and IV variants are mainly missense variants (replacement of one amino acid by another) whose deficiency is linked to defects in intracellular trafficking, activity or stability, respectively. Class V variants have no apparent defect, identifiable by the experimental approaches used and could correspond to non-deleterious polymorphisms (adapted from Vauthier et al., Biochem Pharmacol 2017;136:1-11).

3. Cellular mechanisms of ciliopathies and biliary organogenesis

Supervision: Dr Pascale Dupuis-Williams

The construction during embryogenesis and the maintenance of a functional biliary system rely on the role of the primary cilium, as exemplified by the biliary diseases associated to ciliopathies. Although much work has helped to elucidate the role of the cholangiocyte primary cilium in signaling and in regulating bile homeostasis, its function in biliary organogenesis remains to be elucidated. In this context, our group focuses on Ciliopathies and Biliary Organogenesis. Its activities are developed according to two axes: i) a research program intended to decipher the role in cholangiocytes epithelial polarity of ciliary proteins involved in bile dysgenesis and ii) a bioengineering activity aiming in the construction of biliary tubes to provide models of in vitro biliary development and for regenerative medicine. in vitro et des outils pour la médecine régénérative.

Team members

RESEARCHERS AND LECTURERS

Olivier DELLIS
Associate professor
Université Paris-Saclay
01-69-15-49-59
olivier.dellis@universite-paris-saclay.fr

Pascale DUPUIS-WILLIAMS
Associate professor
ESPCI Paris
01-69-15-68-66
pascale.dupuis-williams@universite-paris-saclay.fr

Thomas FALGUIERES
Research Associate
Inserm
01-69-15-62-94
thomas.falguieres@inserm.fr

Grégory MERLEN
Research Associate
Inserm
01-69-15-68-59
gregory.merlen@inserm.fr

Thierry TORDJMANN
Research Director
Inserm
01-69-15-68-63
thierry.tordjmann@universite-paris-saclay.fr

PHYSICIANS

Oanez ACKERMANN
Paediatric hepatologist
AP-HP
01-45-21-31-67
oanez.ackermann@aphp.fr

Marion ALMES
Assistant professor
AP-HP / Université-Paris-Saclay
01-45-21-31-67
marionflorence.almes@aphp.fr

Emmanuel GONZALES
Full professor
AP-HP / Université-Paris-Saclay
01-45-21-31-67
emmanuel.gonzales@aphp.fr

Dalila HABES
Paediatric hepatologist
AP-HP
01-45-21-31-67
dalila.habes@aphp.fr

Bogdan HERMEZIU
Paediatric hepatologist
AP-HP
01-45-21-31-67
bogdan.hermeziu@aphp.fr

Emmanuel JACQUEMIN
Full professor
AP-HP / Université-Paris-Saclay
01-45-21-31-67
emmanuel.jacquemin@aphp.fr

Anne SPRAUL
Paediatric hepatologist
AP-HP
01-45-21-35-22
anne.spraul@aphp.fr

Alice THEBAUT
Paediatric hepatologist
AP-HP
01-45-21-31-67
alice.thebaut@aphp.fr

ENGINEERS AND TECHNICIANS

Manon BANET
Study engineer (contract)
Inserm (ANR)
01-69-15-62-94
manon.banet@inserm.fr

Khadidiatou DIARRA
Technical assistant
Inserm
01-69-15-68-58
khadidiatou.diarra@inserm.fr

Isabelle DOIGNON
Study engineer
Inserm
01-69-15-68-64
isabelle.doignon@universite-paris-saclay.fr

Olivier FAYOL
Technician
Université Paris-Saclay
01-69-15-63-96
olivier.fayol@universite-paris-saclay.fr

Isabelle GARCIN
Study engineer
Université Paris-Saclay
01-69-15-76-39
isabelle.garcin@universite-paris-saclay.fr

Martine LAPALUS
Research engineer
Inserm
01-69-15-39-25
martine.lapalus@universite-paris-saclay.fr

PHD STUDENTS AND POST-DOCS

Chloé CAENEN
PhD student
Université Paris-Saclay
01-69-15-58-24
chloe.caenen@inserm.fr

Mounia LAKLI
PhD student
Université Paris-Saclay
01-69-15-62-94
mounia.lakli@inserm.fr

Thibault PEBRIER
PhD student
Université Paris-Saclay
01-69-15-63-96
thibault.pebrier@universite-paris-saclay.fr

ALUMNI

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Main publications

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014

Collaborations and partnerships

Under construction...

Our funders