From tuberculosis to rheumatoid arthritis: A glycobiology breakthrough enters the valorization phase
Fundamental research on the interactions between complex sugars and the immune system is opening up new avenues in immunotherapy. Led by Yoann Rombouts and funded by the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM), a pre-maturation project is now entering a critical phase of preclinical validation, with the aim of developing new therapeutic antibodies for autoimmune diseases.
Complex sugars, or glycans, are ubiquitous on the surface of both human and microbial cells. Long regarded as mere decorative or secondary structures, they actually play a central role in cellular communication, particularly in immune responses. At the IPBS (CNRS/University of Toulouse), the research team behind this work has been investigating how certain lectins, proteins that specifically recognize glycans, modulate immune system functions.
Originally conducted in the context of infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the pathogen responsible for tuberculosis, this research has uncovered immunomodulatory mechanisms that could potentially be harnessed for therapeutic purposes. This shift in focus, from microbe to systemic immune response, paves the way for applications that go well beyond infectious diseases, especially in the field of autoimmunity.
It is in this context that a pre-maturation grant was recently awarded to Yoann Rombouts, CNRS researcher at the IPBS, by the FRM. This new phase aims to validate the efficacy of experimental antibodies designed to interfere with signaling pathways involving complex sugars, using a preclinical model of rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease affecting between 0.5% and 1% of the global population. Ultimately, the project seeks to lay the groundwork for a future technology transfer to the biomedical sector.
The development of these antibodies is based in particular on the work of Stella Rousset, a PhD student in Olivier Neyrolles’ team, funded by the FRM through an Équipe FRM grant. Supervised by Yoann Rombouts, she investigates the therapeutic potential of these biomolecules at the intersection of glycobiology, immunology, and biotechnology. Her work is part of a structured valorization strategy, from the identification of molecular targets to proof-of-concept studies in animal models.
This project fully embodies the mission of the IPBS: to bridge the gap between cutting-edge fundamental research and clinical needs in human health. It also highlights the importance of pre-maturation funding schemes in fostering the emergence of therapeutic innovations from academic laboratories.
Contact : Yoann Rombouts | Communication: 06 01 26 52 59