Our research work focuses on Type 1 diabetes (T1D), an autoimmune disease resulting from the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic β cells by the immune system, in particular by autoreactive T lymphocytes. Interestingly, we all harbor these autoreactive T lymphocytes but they are in most cases “benign”. So why do they turn into a pathological and aggressive state in diabetic patients? To answer this question, we are exploring the mechanisms that (aim #1) fail to keep autoreactive T lymphocytes inoffensive and (aim #2) make the β cells more visible and vulnerable to the autoimmune attack. This research will allow us to identify novel therapeutic targets to prevent T1D (aim #3). In this perspective, we have already launched several clinical studies to screen for T1D risk in affected families.

For more information, see our website: www.dearlab.org  

5 main publications and patents

PUBLICATIONS

  • Carré A, Vecchio F, Flodstrom-Tullberg M, You S, Mallone R. Coxsackievirus and type 1 diabetes: diabetogenic mechanisms and implications for prevention. Endocrine Reviews, 2023, 44(4): 737-751. doi.org/10.1210/endrev/bnad007
  • Corcos N, Culina S, Deligne C, Lavaud C, You S*, Mallone R*. Oral Fc-Coupled Preproinsulin Achieves Systemic and Thymic Delivery Through the Neonatal Fc Receptor and Partially Delays Autoimmune Diabetes. Frontiers in immunology. 2021, 12, 616215. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.616215.
  • Azoury ME, Tarayrah M, Afonso G, Pais A, Colli ML, Maillard C, Lavaud C, Alexandre-Heymann L, Gonzalez-Duque S, Verdier Y, Vinh J, Pinto S, Buus S, Dubois-Laforgue D, Larger E, Beressi JP, Bruno G, Eizirik DL, You S, Mallone R. Peptides Derived From Insulin Granule Proteins Are Targeted by CD8 + T Cells Across MHC Class I Restrictions in Humans and NOD Mice. Diabetes. 2020, 69:2678-2690. doi: 10.2337/db20-0013.
  • Gonzalez-Duque S, Azoury ME, Colli ML, Afonso G, Turatsinze JV, Nigi L, Lalanne AI, Sebastiani, G, Carré A, Pinto S, Culina S, Corcos N, Bugliani M, Marchetti P, Armanet M, Diedisheim M, Kyewski B, Steinmetz LM, Buus S, You S, Dubois-Laforgue D, Larger E, Beressi JP, Bruno G, Dotta F, Scharfmann, R., Eizirik, DL, Verdier Y, Vinh J, Mallone R. Conventional and Neo-antigenic Peptides Presented by β Cells Are Targeted by Circulating Naïve CD8+ T Cells in Type 1 Diabetic and Healthy Donors. Cell Metabolism. 2018, 28:946. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2018.07.007.
  • Culina, S., Lalanne, A.I., Afonso, G., Cerosaletti, K., Pinto, S., Sebastiani, G., Kuranda, K., Nigi, L., Eugster, A., Østerbye, T., Maugein, A., McLaren, J.E., Ladell, K., Larger, E., Beressi, J.P., Lissina, A., Appay, V., Davidson, H.W., Buus, S., Price, D.A., Kuhn, M., Bonifacio, E., Battaglia, M., Caillat-Zucman, S., Dotta, F., Scharfmann, R., Kyewski, B., Mallone, R., the ImMaDiab Study Group (2018). Islet-reactive CD8 + T cell frequencies in the pancreas, but not in blood, distinguish type 1 diabetic patients from healthy donors. Science immunology 3. 10.1126/sciimmunol.aao4013

BREVETS

  • 2022- EB19114 - patent under consideration on “biomarkers of autoimmune T cells for the diagnosis and treatment of type 1 diabetes”, by Inserm-Transfert; inventors R. Mallone, S. You, F. Samassa, M. Giraud.
  • 2019 - WO/2019/175380 “Antigenic peptides deriving from Secretogranin V and uses thereof for the diagnosis and treatment of type 1 diabetes” filed by Inserm-Transfert on March 16 2018 (EP18305286); inventors R. Mallone, J. Vinh, D. Eizirik, M. Colli, G. Afonso, S. Gonzalez-Duque, Y. Verdier.
  • 2019 - WO/2019/175381 “Antigenic peptides deriving from PCSK2 and uses thereof for the diagnosis and treatment of type 1 diabetes” filed by Inserm-Transfert on March 16 2018 (EP18305287); inventors R. Mallone, J. Vinh, G. Afonso, S. Gonzalez-Duque, Y. Verdier, M.E. Azoury.
  • 2019 - WO/2019/175384 “Antigenic peptides deriving from Urocortin 3 and uses thereof for the diagnosis and treatment of type 1 diabetes” filed by Inserm-Transfert on March 16 2018 (EP18305288); inventors R. Mallone, J. Vinh, G. Afonso, S. Gonzalez-Duque, Y. Verdier, M.E. Azoury.