SCIL > Research program section > Immunobiology Program

Immunobiology Program

This program is coordinated by two research groups with specific expertise in experimental systems of human (Dr. S. VAN GOOL) and mouse immunology (Drs. A. BILLIAU and M. WAER).

Immunobiology Program

The following aims are being pursued:

  1. Characterize the immune behavior of MAPC & MSC grafted in an environment of inflammation or ongoing immune response, as is the case when stem cells are used therapeutically in disease models, using both mouse and human stem cells.
  2. Develop of clinical grade T-regulatory cells (Van Gool)
  3. Develop of a DC vaccination program (Van Gool)
  4. Graft Versus Host and Graft Versus Leukemia balance in mouse models of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Billiau and Waer)

Lab members

S. VanGool Lab

MAPC
  • Sandra Jacobs
  • Bert Verbinnen
DC
  • Wim Maes
  • Tina Verschuere
  • Hilko Ardon
  • An Coosemans

A. Billiau & M. Waer Lab

MAPC
  • Ariane Luyckx
  • Lien De Somer
GvL / GvHD
  • Lien De Somer
  • Sabine Fevery
  • Ben Sprangers
  • Ariane Luyckx
Xenotransplantation
  • Leen Willems
  • Shengqiao Li
Technicians
  • Omer Rutgeerts
  • Jozef Goebels
  • Caroline Lenaerts
  • Kristien Van Belle

Publications

S Van Gool lab

  • De Vleeschouwer S, Rapp M, Sorg RV, et al. Dendritic cell vaccination in patients with malignant gliomas: actual status and future directions. Neurosurgery 2006;59:988-999
  • De Vleeschouwer S, Spencer Lopes I, Ceuppens JL, Van Gool SW. Persistent IL-10 production is required for glioma growth suppressive activity by Th1-directed effector cells after stimulation with tumor lysateloaded dendritic cells. J Neurooncol 2007;84:131-140
  • De Vleeschouwer S, Fieuws S, Rutkowskik S, et al. Clinical experience of postoperative adjuvant dendritic cell-based immunotherapy in a large Group of patients with relapsed glioblastoma multiforme. Clin Cancer Res 2008;14:3098-3104
  • Verbinnen B, Billiau AD, Vermeiren J, et al. Contribution of regulatory T cells and effector T cell deletion in tolerance induction by costimulation blockade. J Immunol 2008;181:1034-1042
  • Coosemans A, Verbist G, Koninckx PR, et al. Wilms' Tumor Gene 1 (WT1) overexpression in neurons in deep endometriosis: a pilot study. Fertil Steril, in press
  • Maes W, Deroose C, Reumers V, Krylyshkina O, Gijsbers R, Baekelandt V, Ceuppens J, Debyser Z, Van Gool SW. In vivo bioluminescence imaging in an Experimental Mouse model for dendritic cell based immunotherapy against malignant glioma. J Neurooncol 2009;91:127-139
  • Coosemans A, Van Hove Th, Verbist G, et al. Wilms' Tumour Gene 1 (WT1) positivity in endothelial cells surrounding epithelial uterine tumours. Histopathology 2009;54:384-387
  • Coosemans A, Moerman P, Verbist G, et al. Wilms' tumor gene 1 (WT1) in endometrial carcinoma. Gynecol Oncol 2008;111:502-508
  • Maes W, Galicia Rosas G, Verbinnen B, et al. DC vaccination with anti-CD25 treatment leads to long-term immunity against experimental glioma. Neuro-Oncology, in press
  • Van Poppel H, Joniau S, Van Gool SW. Vaccine therapy in patients with renal cell carcinoma. Eur Urol 2009, in press

A Billiau lab

  • Sprangers B, Van Wijmeersch B, Luyckx A, et al. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and donor lymphocyte infusion in a mouse model of irradiation induced myelodysplastic syndrome / myeloproliferation (MDS/MP): graft-versus-MDS/MP effect. Leukemia 23:340-9, 2009.
  • Gowing G, Philips T, Van Wijmeersch B, et al. Ablation of proliferating microglia does not affect motor neuron degeneration in ALS caused by mutant SOD1. J Neurosci 28:10234-44, 2008.
  • Verbinnen B, Billiau AD, Vermeiren J, et al. Contribution of regulatory T cells and effector T cell deletion in tolerance induction by costimulation blockade. J Immun 181:1034-42, 2008.
  • Aranguren L, McCue JD, Hendrickx B et al. Multipotent adult progenitor cells sustain function of ischemic limbs by stimulating vessel and muscle regeneration. J Clin Invest 2008;118:505-14.
  • Devos T, Sprangers B, Lin Y, et al Occurrence of autoimmunity after xenothymus transplantation in T celldefiicent mice depends on the thymus transplant technique.. Transplantation 85:640-4, 2008.
  • Li S, Yan Y, Lin Y, et al. Rapidly induced, T-independent production is mediated by Marginal Zone B cells and requires help from NK1.1+ cells. Blood 110:3926-35, 3007.
  • Van Wijmeersch B, Sprangers B, Rutgeerts O et al. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in models of experimental autoimmune encephaomyelitis: evidence for a graft-versus-autoimmunity effect. Biol Blood and Marrow Transpl 13:627-37, 2007.
  • Fevery S, Billiau AD, Sprangers B, et al. CTLA-4-blockade in murine bone marrow chimeras induces a hostderived antileukemic effect without graft-versus-host disease. Leukemia 21:1451-9, 2007