Main Research Subjects

We are a cohesive and integrated team of 4 scientific working groups (SWGs) working in close collaboration and interacting with the other teams of our laboratory as well as with clinical networks. 

We develop multidisciplinary and translational research projects on normal and pathological red blood cells (RBCs) and on erythroid progenitors.

We have identified new targets and therapeutic strategies for sickle cell disease (SCD) and other diseases involving abnormal red blood cell's properties and ineffective erythropoiesis. 

Our efforts are also focused to foster basic research on red cells biogenesis and to understand the structure and function of the erythroid membrane complexes. 

Finally, we develop basic research to identify and characterize new blood groups and contribute to blood transfusion safety. 

Selected Publications:

Low incidence of COVID-19 severe complications in a large cohort of children with sickle cell disease: a protective role for basal interferon-1 activation? Brousse V, Holvoet L, Pescarmona R, Viel S, Perret M, Visseaux B, Ferre VM, Ithier G, Le Van Kim C, Benkerrou M, Missud F, Koehl B. Haematologica. 2021 May 13. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2021.278573. 

Inherited glycosylphosphatidylinositol defects cause the rare Emm-negative blood phenotype and developmental disorders. Duval R, Nicolas G, Willemetz A, Murakami Y, Mikdar M, Vrignaud C, Megahed H, Cartron JP, Masson C, Wehbi S, Koehl B, Hully M, Siquier K, Chemaly N, Rotig A, Lyonnet S, Colin Y, Barcia G, Cantagrel V, Le Van Kim C, Hermine O, Kinoshita T, Peyrard T, Azouzi S. Blood. 2021 Mar 24:blood.2020009810. doi: 10.1182/blood.2020009810. Online ahead of print. PMID: 3376370

Lack of the multidrug transporter MRP4/ABCC4 defines the PEL-negative blood group and impairs platelet aggregation. Azouzi S, Mikdar M, Hermand P, Gautier EF, Salnot V, Willemetz A, Nicolas G, Vrignaud C, Raneri A, Mayeux P, Bole-Feysot C, Nitschké P, Cartron JP, Colin Y, Hermine O, Jedlitschky G, Cloutier M, Constanzo-Yanez J, Ethier C, Robitaille N, St-Louis M, Le Van Kim C, Peyrard T. Blood. 2020 Feb 6;135(6):441-448. doi: 10.1182/blood.2019002320.PMID: 31826245

Cell-derived microparticles and sickle cell disease chronic vasculopathy in sub-Saharan Africa: A multinational study. Dembélé AK, Lapoumeroulie C, Diaw M, Tessougue O, Offredo L, Diallo DA, Diop S, Elion J, Colin-Aronovicz Y, Tharaux PL, Jouven X, Romana M, Ranque B, Le Van Kim C. Br J Haematol. 2020 Nov 29. doi: 10.1111/bjh.17242. Online ahead of print.PMID: 33249569

Fetal hemoglobin rescues ineffective erythropoiesis in sickle cell disease. El Hoss S, Cochet S, Godard A, Yan H, Dussiot M, Frati G, Boutonnat-Faucher B, Laurance S, Renaud O, Joseph L, Miccio A, Brousse V, Mohandas N, El Nemer W. Haematologica. 2020 Aug 27:haematol.2020.265462. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2020.265462. Online ahead of print.PMID: 32855279

Oxidative stress activates red cell adhesion to laminin in sickle cell disease. Lizarralde-Iragorri MA, Lefevre SD, Cochet S, El Hoss S, Brousse V, Filipe A, Dussiot M, Azouzi S, Le Van Kim C, Rodrigues-Lima F, Français O, Le Pioufle B, Klei T, van Bruggen R, El Nemer W. Haematologica. 2020 Aug 27:haematol.2020.261586. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2020.261586. Online ahead of print.PMID: 32855277

Plasma microparticles of sickle patients during crisis or taking hydroxyurea modify endothelium inflammatory properties. Garnier Y, Ferdinand S, Garnier M, Cita KC, Hierso R, Claes A, Connes P, Hardy-Dessources MD, Lapouméroulie C, Lemonne N, Etienne-Julan M, El Nemer W, Romana M. Blood. 2020 Jul 9;136(2):247-256. doi: 10.1182/blood.2020004853.PMID: 32285120

Effects of sphingolipids overload on red blood cell properties in Gaucher disease. Dupuis L, Chipeaux C, Bourdelier E, Martino S, Reihani N, Belmatoug N, Billette de Villemeur T, Hivert B, Moussa F, Le Van Kim C, de Person M, Franco M. J Cell Mol Med. 2020 Sep;24(17):9726-9736. doi: 10.1111/jcmm.15534. Epub 2020 Aug 7.PMID: 32767726

Downregulation of Mitochondrial TSPO Inhibits Mitophagy and Reduces Enucleation during Human Terminal Erythropoiesis. Moras M, Hattab C, Gonzalez-Menendez P, Martino S, Larghero J, Le Van Kim C, Kinet S, Taylor N, Lefevre SD, Ostuni MA. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Nov 28;21(23):9066. doi: 10.3390/ijms21239066.PMID: 33260618

Human erythroid differentiation requires VDAC1-mediated mitochondrial clearance. Moras M, Hattab C, Gonzalez-Menendez P, Fader CM, Dussiot M, Larghero J, Le Van Kim C, Kinet S, Taylor N, Lefevre SD, Ostuni MA. Haematologica. 2021 Jan 7. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2020.257121. PMID: 33406813