Cellular Microenvironment, Immunomodulation and Nutrition

Research objective

The primary objective of the ECREIN team is to characterize the response of immunocompetent cells (ICCs, i.e., immune, adipocyte, endothelial, epithelial, and chondrocyte cells) to changes in their microenvironment. This research falls within the field of immunonutrition, with two major objectives: 1) Identify the relationships between immune/inflammatory alterations and metabolic disorders related to nutritional status in physiopathological situations (including aging, cancer, obesity, osteoarticular pathologies, food allergies and intolerances).

1) Identify the relationships between immune/inflammatory alterations and metabolic disorders linked to nutritional status in physiopathological situations (notably aging, cancer, obesity, osteoarticular pathologies, food allergies and intolerances).

2) Maintain/optimize the response capacities of immunocompetent cells through targeted nutritional interventions in a preventive and/or therapeutic approach. To this end, a strategy for modulating the dialogue between CICs and other tissues (breast, intestine, bones in particular) is developed through the use of immunomodulatory bioactives (pre- and probiotics, vitamin D, plant bioactives), in order to prevent the risk of chronic pathology associated with aging.

In this context, we select and evaluate plants/bioactives of natural origin exerting effects on immunocompetent cells and/or with anti-proliferative activity thanks to our associated skills in phytochemistry and biology.

We work on the following themes :

Nutrition and mechanisms of tissue and cellular adaptation 
Plant products, health and sustainable food