Cytokines in immunity and inflammation group


Jean-Christophe RENAULD, Member
Jacques VAN SNICK, Member

Magali de HEUSCH, Postdoctoral Fellow
Laure DUMOUTIER, Postdoctoral Fellow
Tekla HORNAKOVA, PhD Student
Muriel LEMAIRE, PhD Student
Valérie STEENWINCKEL, PhD Student
Amel TOUNSI, PhD Student
Isabelle BAR, Technician
Emilie HENDRICKX, Technician
Monique STEVENS, Technician

JCR & JVS





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jcr_group

The cytokine group studies the biology of Interleukin-9 (IL-9) and IL-22, two cytokines discovered at the Branch. IL-9 is a TH2 cytokine that plays a role in immune responses against intestinal parasites and asthma. IL-22, originally identified as a gene induced by IL-9 in T lymphocytes, upregulates the production of acute phase reagents in the liver. Its activity in inflammatory responses is modulated by a specific antagonist, the IL-22 binding protein (IL-22BP). The role of IL-9 and IL-22 in inflammation is currently being investigated using transgenic and gene-targeted mice for these cytokines and their receptors.

Selected publications


  1. Vink A, Warnier G, Brombacher F, Renauld JC. Interleukin 9-induced in vivo expansion of the B-1 lymphocyte population. J Exp Med 1999;189:1413-23.
  2. Richard M, Grencis RK, Humphreys NE, Renauld JC, Van Snick J. Anti-IL-9 vaccination prevents worm expulsion and blood eosinophilia in Trichuris muris-infected mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2000;97:767-72.
  3. Demoulin JB, Van Roost E, Stevens M, Groner B, Renauld JC. Distinct roles for STAT1, STAT3, and STAT5 in differentiation gene induction and apoptosis inhibition by interleukin-9. J Biol Chem 1999;274:25855-61.
  4. Richard M, Louahed J, Demoulin JB, Renauld JC. Interleukin-9 regulates NF-kappaB activity through BCL3 gene induction. Blood 1999;93:4318-27.
  5. Louahed J, Grasso L, De Smet C, Van Roost E, Wildmann C, Nicolaides NC, Levitt RC, Renauld JC. Interleukin-9-induced expression of M-Ras/R-Ras3 oncogene in Thelper clones. Blood 1999;94:1701-10.
  6. Dumoutier L, Van Roost E, Colau D, Renauld JC. Human interleukin-10-related T cell-derived inducible factor: molecular cloning and functional characterization as an hepatocytestimulating factor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2000;97:10144-9.
  7. Dumoutier L, Lejeune D, Colau D, Renauld JC. Cloning and characterization of IL-22 binding protein, a natural antagonist of IL-10-related T cell-derived inducible factor/IL-22. J Immunol 2001;166:7090-5.
  8. Dumoutier L, Leemans C, Lejeune D, Kotenko SV, Renauld JC. Cutting edge: STAT activation by IL-19, IL-20 and mda-7 through IL-20 receptor complexes of two types. J Immunol 2001;167:3545-9.
  9. Renauld JC. Class II cytokine receptors and their ligands: key antiviral and inflammatory modulators. Nature Rev Immunol 2003;3:667-676.
  10. Dumoutier L, Tounsi A, Michiels T, Sommereyns C, Kotenko SV, Renauld JC. Role of the Interleukin-28 Receptor tyrosine residues for antiviral and antiproliferative activity of IL-29/IFN-lambda 1: Similarities with type I Interferon signalling. J Biol Chem 2004;279:32269-74.

Publications