Dr. Fawzi Aoudjit is a senior scientist at the CHU de Québec Research Centre and a professor at the department of microbiology-infectiology and immunology of the Laval University School of Medicine. His research program seeks to understand the mechanisms controlling T cell activity in tissues during inflammatory/autoimmune diseases and cancer, with a focus on the role of the adhesion molecules that bind to extracellular matrix, the integrins. T cells play an important role in the adaptive immune response, but are also critical to the development of inflammatory diseases, and could become malignant and lead to cancer. Recent work by Dr. Aoudjit’s group significantly contributed to understand the importance of extracellular matrix-binding integrins in the regulation of T cell activation and the development of immune response. Along these lines, Dr. Aoudjit and his team have shown that the collagen-binding integrin alpha2beta1 is an important pathway in Th17 cell activation and in the development of arthritis. These studies were highlighted in the news bulletin ‘Immune regulation news’. Dr. Aoudjit received several acknowledgements for his work among which, the New Investigator Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, in 2004.
The current objectives aim to
- understand how collagen receptors such as integrins and discoïdin domain receptors interact to promote the survival and migration of T cell subsets in inflammatory tissues; two critical T cell functions necessary to the development of inflammation, as well as to mounting an anti-cancer immune response.
- determine the role of integrins in the development of lymphoblastic leukemia by investigating their implication in the tissue dissemination of leukemic T cells, and in their resistance to chemotherapy; two cancer features that limit the efficacy of anti-cancer treatments.
The implication of these receptors in the development of inflammatory diseases and cancer is being investigated in human T cell models, in preclinical models of autoimmune diseases, leukemia, and in models of anti-cancer immunity, as well as at the clinical level with the collaboration of clinicians.
In addition to advancing knowledge, these studies aim at the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancer.
2705, boulevard Laurier
T-1-49
Québec, Québec
Canada G1V 4G2
Latest news
- Bachsais, MeriemDoctoral studentmeriem.bachsais@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
- Berrazouane, SofianeDoctoral studentCHUL+1 418-525-4444, extension 46161Sofiane.Berrazouane@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
2705, boulevard Laurier
T-1-49
Québec, Québec
Canada G1V 4G2 - Doucet, AlexieMaster studentCHUL+1 418-525-4444, extension 46071alexie.doucet.1@ulaval.caalexie.doucet@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
2705 Boulevard Laurier
T1-49
Québec, QC
Canada G1V 4G2 - Hamoudi, ChakibMaster studentCHUL+1 418-525-4444, extension 42296chakib.hamoudi.1@ulaval.cachakib.hamoudi@crchudequebec.ulaval.ca
2705, boulevard Laurier
T-149
Québec, Québec
Canada G1V 4G2
Exacerbated intestinal inflammation in P2Y6 deficient mice is associated with Th17 activation.
Journal ArticleBiochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis, 1865 (10), pp. 2595-2605, 2019, ISSN: 0925-4439.
Beta1 integrin blockade overcomes doxorubicin resistance in human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Journal ArticleCell Death Dis, 10 (5), pp. 357, 2019.
Enhanced myelopoiesis and aggravated arthritis in S100a8-deficient mice.
Journal ArticlePLoS ONE, 14 (8), pp. e0221528, 2019.
Alpha2beta1 Integrin (VLA-2) Protects Activated Human Effector T Cells From Methotrexate-Induced Apoptosis.
Journal ArticleFront Immunol, 9 , pp. 2269, 2018, ISSN: 1664-3224.
Human Th17 Migration in Three-Dimensional Collagen Involves p38 MAPK.
Journal ArticleJ Cell Biochem, 118 (9), pp. 2819-2827, 2017, ISSN: 0730-2312.
Discoidin domain receptor 1 promotes Th17 cell migration by activating the RhoA/ROCK/MAPK/ERK signaling pathway.
Journal ArticleOncotarget, 7 (29), pp. 44975-44990, 2016, ISSN: 1949-2553.
The Interaction of CD154 with the α5β1 Integrin Inhibits Fas-Induced T Cell Death.
Journal ArticlePLoS ONE, 11 (7), pp. e0158987, 2016.
Alpha2beta1 integrin in cancer development and chemoresistance.
Journal ArticleSemin Cancer Biol, 35 , pp. 145-53, 2015, ISSN: 1044-579X.
Cooperation between IL-7 Receptor and Integrin α2β1 (CD49b) Drives Th17-Mediated Bone Loss.
Journal ArticleJ Immunol, 195 (9), pp. 4198-209, 2015, ISSN: 0022-1767.
Regulators and Effectors of Arf GTPases in Neutrophils.
Journal ArticleJ Immunol Res, 2015 , pp. 235170, 2015, ISSN: 2314-7156.
Active projects
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Subvention, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec - Université Laval, Centres de recherche affiliés, from 2017-01-01 to 2099-12-31
- Centre de recherche en arthrite de l'Université Laval, Subvention, Institutionnel - BDR, BDR - Entités de recherche en émergence, from 2019-01-01 to 2020-01-31
- Expression and function of discoidin domain receptor 1 in T cells, Subvention, Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et génie Canada, Subventions à la découverte SD (individuelles et d'équipe), from 2017-04-01 to 2022-03-31
Recently finished projects
- Elucidating the role of alpha2beta1 integrin in the chemoresistance of acute lymphoblastic leukemia., Subvention, Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada, Subvention de fonctionnement, from 2014-07-01 to 2019-06-30
- Immunosuppressive function of S100A8 in arthritis., Subvention, Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada, Subvention de fonctionnement, from 2014-07-01 to 2019-06-30