The Institut Bordet Clinical Cellular Therapy Research Laboratory (LTCC) is dedicated to fundamental and translational research in the fields of haematology and immunology cellular therapy.
The LTCC’s main objectives concern:
- study of the interaction between leukaemic cells and their microenvironment;
- establishment of new prognostic factors;
- development of new therapeutic strategies.
Within the field of cellular therapy, the LTCC is studying the functional characterisation of mesenchymal stromal cells obtained from different tissues and their manipulation with a view to increasing their therapeutic potential.
The LTCC is seeking to improve understanding of the physiopathology of chronic lymphoid leukaemia. We have identified new cellular, molecular and epigenetic biomarkers that help to refine patient prognosis and to guide the direction of treatment. An important part of our research focuses on the interaction between leukaemic cells and their microenvironment (via direct contact or via extracellular vesicles), involved in the progression of the disease and on means of interrupting this dialogue.
In the context of cellular therapy, the LTCC has characterised mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from different tissue sources such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, umbilical cord, skin and muscle. The Laboratory’s key interest is the mechanisms involved in the regulation of the different actors of immune response by MSCs and is developing methods to improve the therapeutic effects of MSCs. Research is also aimed at developing acellular systems based on the capacity of MSCs to release extracellular vesicles capable of mimicking their effects. These extracellular vesicles will be characterised in terms of transcriptome, miRNome and proteome.
Cellular therapy pilot studies are also initiated in collaboration with clinical teams after agreement by the Institut Bordet ethics committee.
The LTCC is involved in training students from the Faculty of Medicine, of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and from the Hautes Écoles. Students are supervised as part of immersion courses, for their final dissertation and when completing a 4-year doctoral thesis. We are also involved in supervising theses by students from other universities.
Research projects
Project 1
IMPACT OF CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA-DERIVED EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES ON THE MICROENVIRONMENT IMMUNE LANDSCAPE / IMPACT DES VÉSICULES EXTRACELLULAIRES DÉRIVÉES DE LEUCÉMIE LYMPHOÏDE CHRONIQUE SUR LES CELLULES IMMUNITAIRES DU MICROENVIRONNEMENT
- Project leaders : Basile Stamatopoulos, Laurence Lagneaux
- Funding : Les Amis de l'Institut Bordet, Fondation Lambeau-Marteaux, FNRS-Télévie, Crédit de recherche FNRS
Project 2
Phenotypical Characterization and functional Impact of extracellular vesicles from mesenchymal stromal cells on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia B-cells
- Project leaders : Basile Stamatopoulos, Laurence Lagneaux
- Funding : Les Amis de l'Institut Bordet, FER, FNRS-Télévie
Project 3
Extracellular vesicles derived from umbilical cord-mesenchymal stromal cells for targeted therapy in pancreatic cancer
- Project leaders : Laurence Lagneaux, Basile Stamatopoulos
- Collaborations : Alain Hendlisz, Van Laethem JL
- Funding : Les Amis de l'Institut Bordet, FNRS-Télévie
Project 4
Immunosuppressive microenvironment in multiple myeloma: role of bone marrow-mesenchymal cell (BM-MSC) glycosylation
- Project leader : Laurence Lagneaux
- Collaboration : Nathalie Meuleman
- Funding : Les Amis de l'Institut Bordet, Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome
Project 5
The use of Adipose Tissue derived Stromal Vascular Fraction in a Platelet-Rich Fibrin scaffold within Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw treatment
- Project leader : Cyril Bouland
- Collaboration : Nathalie Meuleman, Isabelle Loeb
- Funding : Fondation Vésal
Our team
Laboratory head
Laurence Lagneaux, PhD
The team
Basile Stamatopoulos, PhD
Karlien Pieters, laboratory technician
Florian Draguet, PhD student Télévie
Nathan Dubois, PhD student Télévie
Cyril Bouland, MD, PhD student
Florent Corrillon, scientific collaborator
Scientific publications
Therapeutic Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells: Value, Challenges and Optimization.
Authors : Najar M, Melki R, Khalife F, Lagneaux L, Bouhtit F, Moussa Agha D, Fahmi H, Lewalle P, Fayyad-Kazan M, Merimi M
Year : 2022
Journal : Front Cell Dev Biol
Volume : 9
Pages : 716853
Extracellular vesicle secretion by leukemia cells in vivo promotes CLL progression by hampering antitumor T-cell responses.
Authors : Gargiulo E, Viry E, Morande PE, Largeot A, Gonder S, Xian F, Ioannou N, Benzarti M, Kleine Borgmann FB, Mittelbronn M, Dittmar G, Nazarov PV, Meiser J, Stamatopoulos B, Ramsay AG, Moussay E, Paggetti J
Year : 2022
Journal : Blood Cancer Discov
Fundamental and Applied Advances in Stem Cell Therapeutic Research.
Authors : Merimi M, Rahmani S, Afailal Tribak A, Bouhtit F, Fahmi H, Najar M
Year : 2022
Journal : Cells
Volume : 11
Immuno-comparative screening of adult-derived human liver stem/progenitor cells for immune-inflammatory-associated molecules.
Authors : Merimi M, Lagneaux L, Lombard CA, Agha DM, Bron D, Lewalle P, Meuleman N, Najimi M, Sokal EM, Najar M
Year : 2021
Journal : Inflamm Res
Volume : 70
Pages : 229-239
New Anti-Leukemic Effect of Carvacrol and Thymol Combination through Synergistic Induction of Different Cell Death Pathways.
Authors : Bouhtit F, Najar M, Moussa Agha D, Melki R, Najimi M, Sadki K, Boukhatem N, Bron D, Meuleman N, Hamal A, Lagneaux L, Lewalle P, Merimi M
Year : 2021
Journal : Molecules
Volume : 26