pathologies et épithéliums : prévention, innovation, traitements, évaluation

The unit EA-4267 is a multidisciplinary team of researchers (in pharmacology, physiology, pharmacognosy, toxicology, biochemistry, drug chemistry, sport physiology, rheumatology, surgery) working in the field of Health and Sports Sciences. They develop a preclinical, translational and clinical research aiming to discover innovative therapies for improving epithelial function and drug transport across epitheliums. Epitheliums are mono- or multicellular layers covering external and internal surfaces of our body and whom functions might be protective, secretory or absorptive. Scientists, pharmacists and medical doctors of EA 4267, members of Université de Franche-Comté et Université de Bourgogne, consider epitheliums as “Epithelial barriers” (axis 1) that change the effect of drugs as well as their access to their cellular target, and also as therapeutic targets as “Epithelial dysfunctions” (axis 2) are pivotal in the pathophysiology of multiple diseases. Our researches mainly focus on epithelial cells from intestine, vessels (endothelium) and liver, and aim at developing new treatments (new drugs from natural or synthetic origin, notably arginase inhibitors, physical activity, cryotherapy, nanovectors) for enhancing cardiovascular, intestinal and hepatic epithelial functions, in particular in case of chronic inflammatory diseases.