Caen University Hospital’s LMEP (Extracellular Matrix and Pathology Laboratory) focuses in particular on the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for pathologies such as osteoarthritis, fibrosis, scleroderma… The laboratory’s current research aims at producing new conjunctive tissue from stem cells. A promising, yet time-consuming challenge.

Making the most of the sea’s resources

Making the most of the sea’s resources
The Extracellular Matrix and Pathology laboratory, in association with Jean-Marc Lebel (UMR M 100 IFREMER Physiology & Ecophysiology of Marine Molluscs, UCBN) and Estelle Le Bihan (IVAMER, a company located in Thury-Harcourt) are contributing towards the SEAMINEROIL project, certified by Boulogne-sur-Mer’s aquatic produce competitiveness cluster « Aquimer ». This research programme has also been selected within the framework of the 7th FUI (Unique Interministerial Fund) request for proposals. The aim of the project is to maximise products and by-products (mollusc shells, viscera…) from the fishing and aquaculture sectors. In particular, the project will be focusing on identifying new active properties among the mineral and fat fractions contained in these products in order to develop therapeutic strategies to fight osteoarthritis, skin ageing and fibrosis. The recently launched project will be benefiting from 350,000 Euros of funding.

It has been their obsession for over 20 years. Researchers from the Extracellular Matrix and Pathology laboratory (EA 3214, IFR 146 ICORE), co-managed by Karim Boumediene and Philippe Galéra, are working on extracellular matrix disorders observed in osteoarthritis, a degenerative disease affecting articular cartilage. In France, the disease concerns over 10 million people. “This degeneration which destroys, more or less rapidly, the cartilage surrounding bone extremities, is our age-old research theme,” explain the two researchers.
“Osteoarthritis attacks cartilage which is rich in collagen. It can be caused by wear and tear, by genetic factors, or even certain dietary phenomena, such as excessive weight gain. It can be extremely disabling, since cartilage acts as a shock absorber in joints.”
The LMEP is particularly interested in the “scaffold” of the extracellular matrix which surrounds the cells contained in this tissue. The laboratory is therefore actively involved in a number of research programmes, benefiting from European Union support. The ANR (French National Research Agency) and the Lower Normandy Regional Council are also behind the Caen-based laboratory for its PROMOCART project involving innovative culture systems for mesenchymal stem cells and chondrocytes, and offering genuine therapeutic potential. Cellular and tissular engineering Thanks to their continued research on the molecules that are specific to cartilage, Karim Boumediene and Philippe Galéra have gained experience on collagen, particularly Type II collagen. And this experience brings with it new research prospects. “We study, in particular, certain hormones whose action disturbs the production of this tissue, hence leading to increased risk of osteoarthritis,” explains Karim Boumediene. And to do so, the LMEP develops its own cellular and tissular engineering techniques, within the framework of a genuine therapeutic strategy. “For example, we study how to reproduce, ex-vivo (in a laboratory), tissue that can potentially be used for grafting,” indicates Philippe Galéra. Several associated studies are currently underway, in partnership with the pharmaceutical laboratories Pierre Fabre, Johnson & Johnson and Negma-Lerads. The LMEP also studies scleroderma, in inflammatory skin disorder. The most promising strategy currently involves the production of new conjunctive tissue using stem cells (contained in the blood in umbilical cords). “Their properties are such that they can generate specialised cells, via cellular differentiation, depending on the specific research theme,” adds Philippe Galéra.
So, from a specific cell, we should be able to “produce” cartilage, skin… Of course, we remain in the conditional, however the team is working hard on the theme, following its experience with the European GENOSTEM (1) project. One of the laboratory’s other latest developments consists in associating cells with biomaterials and biological mediators, in order to produce new functional tissue in vitro. “This should enable us, in particular, to produce 3D cultures which could be used as a scaffold for tissue. Work is underway, within the framework of the ANR PROMOCART project, and further research is scheduled with the SEAMINEROIL programme (see boxed article),” Karim Boumediene is pleased to announce. “However, the bulk of our research efforts are still ahead of us.”

(1) The aim of GENOSTEM (a European FP6 Project) is to repair conjunctive tissue via mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) engineering. This research is a major challenge, since age-related degenerative diseases (osteoporosis, osteoarthritis) have a significant socio-economic impact. They require periods of hospitalisation, rehabilitation and home-based care.

Karim Boumediene and Philippe Galéra
Extracellular Matrix and Pathology laboratory (LMEP) EA 3214, IFR 146 ICORE UFR de Médecine (Department of Medicine)
Université de Caen Basse-Normandie
14032 Caen cedex
Tél. : 02 31 06 82 18

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