Séminaire CIRI : Dr Sophie LAFFONT

Dr. Sophie LAFFONT (Infinity, Toulouse), " Hormonal regulation of Innate Lymphoid cells: towards a better understanding of sex differences in immunity "

Abstract: Infectious but also inflammatory diseases differentially affect women and men. In general, women develop strongest immune responses which make them more resistant to infection and cancer but more likely to develop autoimmunity. Innate lymphoid cell (ILC) subsets at barrier surfaces contribute to maintain tissue homeostasis and appropriate responses to infection and assault. In addition to their ability to respond to alarmins and cytokines, ILCs can be regulated by numerous factors such as neuropeptides and lipids. Among these extrinsic signals, we have shown that steroid hormones can act in a cell-intrinsic manner to regulate the development, maintenance in tissues and effector functions of specific subsets of ILCs. Understanding the nature and molecular mechanisms of sex steroid hormone actions on ILCs could contribute to unravel the cause of sexual disparity in human diseases and could lead to new drug development for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases or cancers.