Our LabCom (Laboratoire Commun) is a partnership between BrainEver SAS and the Collège de France, CNRS, and Inserm. We are exploring translational aspects of homeoprotein transcription factors, mainly focused on their potential for intercellular transfer.
Eye diseases
The OTX2 homeoprotein is expressed in several cell types within the adult retina and transfers between cells to regulate cell survival and physiology. For example, OTX2 transfers from bipolar cells to retinal ganglion cells, which are the projection neurons from the eye to the brain and their loss results in visual impairment in diseases such as glaucoma and diabetic neuropathy. In mice, ocular injection of OTX2 protein can protect these cells from degeneration. We are developing strategies to deliver OTX2 (protein or gene) to the eye to promote cell survival and activity.
Parkinson’s disease
The EN1 homeoprotein is expressed by mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons and exerts a maintenance effect on their heterochromatin structure that enables their survival in rodent and non-human primate models of Parkinson’s disease. We are developing protein and gene delivery approaches to target EN1 to dopamine neurons for Parkinson’s disease therapy.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
The EN1 homeoprotein is expressed by spinal cord interneurons (ventral in rodents, anterior in humans) and is transferred into motoneurons where it acts as a neurotrophic agent. We are engaged in pre-clinical investigations of EN1 as therapeutic homeoprotein in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) by using mouse models and iPSCs derived from human patients.
