Jean Feuillard and Christelle Vincent-Fabert published an article and a review in Frontiers in Immunology. Their published work focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the emergence of indolent lymphomas.

The article focuses on Waldenström’s disease, which is an incurable B lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma characterized by a mutation in the MYD88 gene and for which there are no specific treatment. In order to better understand the first steps in the transformation of the B cell that expresses this mutation, the team then modeled this pathology in mice. For the first time, they show the transformative power of the Myd88 mutation in the emergence of the disease. This model reproduces several characteristics of the disease found in humans and will be very useful as a preclinical model for the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Link to the publication : https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.641692

Collaborations :

• Jean FEUILLARD and Christelle VINCENT-FABERT : UMR CNRS 7276/INSERM U1262 CRIBL, University of Limoges, and Hematology Laboratory of Dupuytren Hospital University Center (CHU) of Limoges, Limoges, France
• Stéphanie POULAIN : UMR CANTHER « CANcer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to THERapies » INSERM 1277-CNRS 9020 UMRS 12, University of Lille, Hematology Laboratory, Biology and Pathology Center, CHU de Lille, Lille, France
• Karl BALABANIAN et Marion ESPELI : Institut de Recherche Saint-Louis, EMiLy, INSERM U1160, University of Paris, Paris, France
• Marie PARRENS : Pathology Department, Hospital University Center of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
• Isabelle SOUBEYRAN : Laboratory of Pathology, Institut Bergonié, Bordeaux, France

The review focuses on the notion of escape from the immune response in B cell lymphomas. These mechanisms are developed by tumor cells to avoid being recognized by the immune system.

Link to the review : https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.669964/abstract