Team 2

Team 2 is a basic research team oriented to a multidisciplinary and translational research investigating proteolytic mechanisms associated with two chronic pulmonary diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and fibrosis) and lung cancer. 

Our group also investigates interventional strategies for targeting lung proteases in the inflammatory microenvironment. For that we develop on the one hand innovative methods of synthesis to prepare new small chemical (heterocyclic) inhibitors and, in an other hand we design and produce original antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs, a targeted therapy, allowing selective delivery of cytotoxic agents, thereby limiting usual systemic toxicity).

More specifically, we focus on proteolytic mechanisms of serine proteases (from neutrophils and epithelial cells) and cysteine cathepsins (from fibroblasts and macrophages). Indeed, reestablishing the homeostasis of the proteolytic balance (protease/antiprotease) is a perspective to develop therapeutic approaches for inflammatory lung diseases.

The Team gathered biochemists, chemists, cell biologists and physicians, all experts in the study of proteolysis in inflammatory lung diseases.