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Immunology Biology
S
AIT The immune system Searching for the

TR of the lung perfect transporter

C POR

ER Using his ERC Starting Grant, which began in 2019, Thomas Marichal, FNRS Research
Associate at the GIGA Research Center (ULiège), can study the interstitial macrophages
of the lung, which play a key role in preventing the development of immune diseases Project name: ORGANITRA -
such as asthma. C IN BRIEF Transport of phosphorylated
compounds across lipid
he immune system of the lung “The first is made up of macrophages important role in the development of bilayers by supramolecular
plays two important roles: fighting located close to the bronchi and the nervous system. Because they have receptors
Toff attacks from pathogenic bronchioles”, expounds Thomas Marichal. different functions depending on the tissue ER Type of grant:
organisms and slowing down unwanted “And they are indeed beneficial for where they are located, it is important to ERC Starting Grant
immune responses. A population regulating the immune response of the understand what signals they receive from
of immune cells, called interstitial lungs. The second is located close to the the tissue to be able to carry out these Dates : 2019 -2023
macrophages, has been identified as pulmonary alveoli and not much is known functions.”
playing this second role, in particular for about its function.” Hennie Valkenier-van Dijk,
preventing the development of allergic Greater risk
asthma, mediated by an unwanted The team at GIGA set itself the task FNRS Research Associate, Engineering of
Molecular NanoSystems Lab, ULB
of trying to understand how these
response to allergens such as pollen. Thomas Marichal and his team began
However, these macrophages were little macrophages work. To reach their goal, their work at the beginning of 2019,
they tried to decrypt the signals that
studied, a shortcoming just overcome assured of funding for five years. The Hennie Valkenier-van Dijk had the good fortune to obtain
by the ERC grant awarded to Thomas the cells in the lungs send them. These Liège-based researcher openly admits
signals determine whether they have a
Marichal, FNRS Research Associate that the ERC grant has given them her mandate of FNRS Research Associate (at ULB) as well
and WELBIO Investigator at the GIGA beneficial function in asthma or for other additional international visibility, which as an ERC Starting Grant almost at the same time. She has
illnesses, or a harmful function. “Our
Research Center at ULiège. translates to invitations to be part of
aim is to identify these signals and then come some distance since 2018. Her aim, however, has quantity he uses. We also have recipes for
determine, in the macrophage cell, which committees reading reviews and taking the phosphate receptors already listed in
Two subgroups programmes are set up to assign them part in international congresses. But he remained unchanged: synthesise molecules capable of the scientific literature. On the other hand,
certain functions.” This is a challenge that insists in particular on two points. carrying anions through cellular membranes. there are lots of molecules that have never
“Until our work, explains Thomas Marichal, affects more than the macrophages of
interstitial macrophages were considered the lung, because they exist everywhere. The first is the reassurance provided by been developed before – hence the need to
funding over such a long period, which
as forming a homogeneous population, all And while they have long been thought experiment with our own recipes.”
with a beneficial function. We wondered simply to “eat” bacterial debris or other is unusual when it comes to research. he aim of her ERC project is to produce can help these antivirals to reach
“To be able to spend time thinking about
whether this was really the case.” The pathogens, we now know that this is not develop molecules that interact the inside of cells.” The boost from ERC
research conducted by the laboratory the case. In fact, it has now been realised science, rather than about the problem Twith the phosphates, present in
of finding funding.” And, in particular,
in Liège quickly arrived at an initial that the identity of each macrophage is our DNA and in our bones. “The aim is From Lego to cooking “I’ve been lucky to become an FNRS
conclusion: there are two distinct types of different. “So, explains Thomas Marichal, “it provides an opportunity to ask more to pass these phosphates through the cell Research Associate and obtain an ERC
innovative questions – riskier no doubt than
interstitial macrophages. the macrophages in the brain play an if we had to present accounts after a year membrane”, explains Hennie Valkenier. recipes Starting Grant at the same time”, explains
the Dutch researcher. “It’s an excellent
or two.” “It’s a major challenge. Over the past two Hennie Valkenier does not lack combination. The FNRS enables me to have
years, we have produced compounds that
Henri Dupuis bind to phosphates. We have also developed imagination when it comes to a permanent position as a researcher in
molecules capable of transporting understanding what she is undertaking. Belgium. But working on such a subject
“To arrive at where we want to go, we do
alone is a bit of a gamble and any progress
ions similar to phosphates through the organic synthesis. We build molecules using is very slow. The ERC grant has enabled me
- FNRS.NEWS 121 - FEBRUARY 2021 C IN BRIEF ER Project name: IM-ID – Defining understand what doesn’t work and then then test these molecules to see if they For the young researcher, managing a - FNRS.NEWS 121 - FEBRUARY 2021
membrane. And, finally, we have learnt a
to build a team for the project, as well as
blocks, a bit like Lego. We assemble different
great deal from our mistakes: it’s the basics
buy equipment.”
little molecules to make bigger ones. We
of experimental research: carry out tests,
interact with the phosphate and if they can
the intrinsic transcriptional
do other tests in the hope of finding an
team presents its own challenge, which
carry it through the cell membrane.”
programs and the
appropriate solution to the problem. We still
is not always an easy – but one that also
microenvironmental signals
have three years ahead of us.”
produces satisfaction. “It enables me to
Is it a method that also related to
tailoring lung Interstitial
tackle a complex project and go where no
cooking? “Organic synthesis does indeed
While the research is fundamental,
Macrophage Identity
one has dare to venture before. What’s
look like cooking in the sense that we don’t
various applications, particularly in
Type of grant:
more, this adventure has brought me
spend time looking at molecules separately,
biotechnology, result from the transport
ERC Grant has given my project visibility.”
Dates : 2019 -2023
manufacture molecules, one by one). It’s
are, for example, numerous antiviral
a little like a pastry maker isn’t interested
compounds that use these groups of
Laurent Zanella
Thomas Marichal,
16 FNRS Research Associate, GIGA, ULiège ERC Starting Grant of phosphate groups inside cells. “There but together (actually, it’s impossible to national and international recognition. The 17
phosphates. And the molecules that we
in each grain of sugar, but in the total