Post-transcriptional control of adaptive immunity and tumorigenesis

Responsable : Manuel D. Diaz Munoz

Scientific objectives

Our immune system is essential for fighting infections. Throughout vaccination and immunotherapy, it can be trained against common viruses and pathogens, and to recognise and eliminate malignant cancer cells. Nonetheless, pathogen and cancer cell adaptation can limit the efficacy of these approaches making essential to understand further the genetic and mechanistic insights underlying lymphocyte development, activation and function.

Different layers of regulation, at the DNA, RNA and protein level, secure the correct expression of genes in immune cells. The interplay between these regulatory layers is complex, with messenger RNA (mRNA) acting as a bridge that controls immune cell function in time and magnitude. mRNA molecules are decorated with RNA-binding proteins. These proteins control the nature of the nucleotide sequence as well as mRNA subcellular location, stability and translation into protein. The core of our research aims to understand how these RNA binding proteins control fundamental aspects in lymphocyte development and differentiation, and whether dynamic sensing of pathogens, cancer cells and other activated immune cells contribute to immune regulation.

Our projects


Axis 1. RNA-binding proteins in lymphocyte development & function.

Leading researcher: Manuel D. Diaz-Munoz


Development of a highly diversified immune system is essential to confer protection against ever-changing pathogens. Transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene regulatory networks must act coordinately for the generation of healthy lymphocytes in the thymus and the bone marrow. Our efforts aim to understand which is the contribution of RNA binding proteins in order to secure the correct development of lymphocytes, their selection and homeostatic maintenance.

With the help of transgenics mouse models and state-of-the art analysis of protein:RNA interactions, we explore how timely control of mechanisms such as mRNA splicing and translation allows the generation of lymphocytes with an expanded B- and T-cell receptor repertoire. Throughout the study of RNA binding proteins such as HuR and Tia1, we assess the pathological consequences of altering these post-transcriptional mechanisms in B and T lymphocytes, with a special emphasis on uncovering how they contribute to the launch of humoral and anti-tumoral responses.

Axis 2. Lymphocyte immunoregulation in germinal centres & humoral responses.

Leading researcher: Meryem Aloulou


Germinal centres (GCs) are central to the body’s defence against pathogens, and yet represent the origin of most non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas. These dynamic structures arise within secondary lymphoid organs, such as the spleen and lymph node, following infection. Within GCs, B cells undergo rapid clonal expansion and diversify their antibody repertoire, a process that relies on tightly coordinated interactions with T cells. Specialised T cell subsets, including T follicular helper (Tfh) and T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cells, critically shape the quality and durability of humoral immunity. Our research aims to uncover the role of CD8 Tregs, a poorly explored subset, and their intimate link with B cells in secondary lymphoid organs. We investigate how CD8 Tregs influence GC dynamics during responses to model antigens and infections, and how these regulatory interactions guide the development of robust or dysfunctional humoral immunity. Our work additionally considers how CD8 Tregs change with ageing. Their number and phenotypic profile shift across the lifespan, and these age-related changes may contribute to impaired GC function and weakened vaccine responses in older individuals. Thus, by integrating advanced transgenic mouse models with analyses of human samples, we dissect the complex cellular, molecular, post-transcriptional, and metabolic pathways that govern T-B cell communication. Through this approach, our research seeks to identify the mechanisms that underpin effective vaccination, maintain immune homeostasis, or drive pathological outcomes such as autoimmunity.

Axis 3. RNA- dependent regulation of mutagenic activity in normal and cancer B cells.

Leading researchers: Manuel D. Diaz-Munoz, Mailys Mouysset


Tight modulation of immunoglobulin (Ig) class-switch recombination, somatic hypermutation and DNA damage repair is essential for antibody production. However, miss-targeted mutations can lead to chromosomal translocation and B cell tumour transformation. The protein named Activation-Induced Deaminase (AID) is the main responsible for genome mutagenesis in GC B cells as well as in several B cell lymphomas. Thus, our main objective is to understand how AID and other RNA binding proteins enable Ig- class switch recombination and somatic hypermutation in B cells while preserving the genome integrity. Mutagenesis and DNA repair are highly regulated processes linked to B cell proliferation. The existence of different cell cycle checkpoints is essential for evaluation and depletion of B cells with extensive mutations. Our research is specialised focused on characterising the molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways that modulate protein and mRNA subcellular location as well as the translation of oncogenes in normal and cancer B cells. How RNA-binding proteins contribute to the selection of mutated GC B cells producing high-affinity antibodies while preventing B-cell tumour transformation is a major question yet to be answered.

Axis 4. Coupling antigen sensing and translational control in immunity & cancer.

Leading researcher: Virginie Mieulet


Our research is also aiming at understanding how antigen-dependent activation of MAPK signalling pathway triggers post-transcriptional networks that control lymphocyte activation, differentiation and functions. Our most recent studies indicate that MAPK activation acts as an alternative to mTOR signalling for setting the time and magnitude of expression of specific proteins in tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Thus, our studies aim to assess whether MAPK signalling enhances or restrains the cytotoxic activity of TILs to enhance tumour growth, by controlling the translation of specific mRNA targets. Our strategy integrates cutting-edge technologies (CITE-seq, Ribo-seq, multiplex imaging) with comprehensive analyses in relevant cellular models of cancer–experienced T cells, preclinical cancer models, and patient samples. The ultimate goal is to assess whether translational reprogramming in TILs affects anti-tumoral immunity and set the clinical relevance of inhibiting the translation machinery for cancer patients with MAPK alterations.

Autres informations


Notre Équipe

Notre équipe a été établie au INFINITY en 2018. Nous cherchons activement des chercheurs jeunes et talentueux qui partagent nos intérêts dans la recherche biomédicale et l’immunologie. Des demandes informelles seront considérées pour ceux qui souhaitent se joindre à nous. Veuillez envoyer votre CV (maximum trois pages A4 incluant vos contributions scientifiques) et une lettre de motivation décrivant vos intérêts par email. Les options de financement (bourses d’études, bourses de recherche et contrats de travail associés au projet) seront discutées en fonction du mérite du candidat et de ses attentes professionnelles.

Publications clés

2025

Mailys Mouysset Dunja Capitan-Sobrino, Orlane Maloudi

Posttranscriptional control of the B cell receptor by HuR is essential for innate B cell maintenance and function Article de journal

Dans: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), vol. 122, no. 37, p. e2421149122, 2025.

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2024

Orlane Maloudi Ines C. Osma-Garcia, Mailys Mouysset; Diaz-Muñoz, Manuel D.

Post-transcriptional regulation by TIA1 and TIAL1 controls the transcriptional program enforcing T cell quiescence Article de journal

Dans: Biorxiv, 2024.

Résumé | Liens | BibTeX

2023

Osma-Garcia, Ines C.; Mouysset, Mailys; Capitan-Sobrino, Dunja; Aubert, Yann; Turner, Martin; Diaz-Muñoz, Manuel D.

The RNA binding proteins TIA1 and TIAL1 promote Mcl1 mRNA translation to protect germinal center responses from apoptosis Article de journal

Dans: Cellular & Molecular Immunology, 2023, ISSN: 2042-0226.

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2022

Matheson, Louise S.; Petkau, Georg; S'aenz-Narciso, Beatriz; D'Angeli, Vanessa; McHugh, Jessica; Newman, Rebecca; Munford, Haydn; West, James; Chakraborty, Krishnendu; Roberts, Jennie; Łukasiak, Sebastian; D'iaz-Muñoz, Manuel D.; Bell, Sarah E.; Dimeloe, Sarah; Turner, Martin

Multiomics analysis couples mRNA turnover and translational control of glutamine metabolism to the differentiation of the activated CD4+ T cell Article de journal

Dans: Scientific Reports, vol. 12, no. 1, p. 19657, 2022, ISSN: 2045-2322.

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Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Osma-Garcia, I. C.

The RNA regulatory programs that govern lymphocyte development and function Article de journal

Dans: Wiley Interdiscip Rev RNA, vol. 13, no. 1, p. e1683, 2022, ISSN: 1757-7012 (Electronic) 1757-7004 (Linking).

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Cacheiro-Llaguno, Cristina; Hernández-Subirá, Elena; Díaz-Muñoz, Manuel D.; Fresno, Manuel; Serrador, Juan M.; Íñiguez, Miguel A.

Regulation of Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Human T Cells by Glucocorticoid Receptor-Mediated Transrepression of Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cells Article de journal

Dans: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 23, no. 21, 2022, ISSN: 1422-0067.

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Osma-Garcia, Ines C.; Capitan-Sobrino, Dunja; Mouysset, Mailys; Aubert, Yann; Maloudi, Orlane; Turner, Martin; Diaz-Muñoz, Manuel D.

The splicing regulators TIA1 and TIAL1 are required for the expression of the DNA damage repair machinery during B cell lymphopoiesis Article de journal

Dans: Cell Reports, vol. 41, no. 12, p. 111869, 2022, ISSN: 2211-1247.

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Hu, F.; Lu, J.; Matheson, L. S.; Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Saveliev, A.; Turner, M.

Correction to: ORFLine: a bioinformatic pipeline to prioritize small open reading frames identifies candidate secreted small proteins from lymphocytes Article de journal

Dans: Bioinformatics, 2022, ISSN: 1367-4811 (Electronic) 1367-4803 (Linking).

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2021

Osma-Garcia, I. C.; Capitan-Sobrino, D.; Mouysset, M.; Bell, S. E.; Lebeurrier, M.; Turner, M.; Diaz-Munoz, M. D.

The RNA-binding protein HuR is required for maintenance of the germinal centre response Article de journal

Dans: Nat Commun, vol. 12, no. 1, p. 6556, 2021, ISSN: 2041-1723 (Electronic) 2041-1723 (Linking).

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Mieulet, V.; Garnier, C.; Kieffer, Y.; Guilbert, T.; Nemati, F.; Marangoni, E.; Renault, G.; Chamming's, F.; Vincent-Salomon, A.; Mechta-Grigoriou, F.

Stiffness increases with myofibroblast content and collagen density in mesenchymal high grade serous ovarian cancer Article de journal

Dans: Sci Rep, vol. 11, no. 1, p. 4219, 2021, ISSN: 2045-2322 (Electronic) 2045-2322 (Linking).

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Hu, F.; Lu, J.; Matheson, L. S.; Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Saveliev, A.; Turner, M.

ORFLine: a bioinformatic pipeline to prioritise small open reading frames identifies candidate secreted small proteins from lymphocytes Article de journal

Dans: Bioinformatics, 2021, ISSN: 1367-4811 (Electronic) 1367-4803 (Linking).

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Boccasavia, V. L.; Bovolenta, E. R.; Villanueva, A.; Borroto, A.; Oeste, C. L.; van Santen, H. M.; Prieto, C.; Alonso-Lopez, D.; Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Batista, F. D.; Alarcon, B.

Antigen presentation between T cells drives Th17 polarization under conditions of limiting antigen Article de journal

Dans: Cell Rep, vol. 34, no. 11, p. 108861, 2021, ISSN: 2211-1247 (Electronic).

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Belot, A.; Gourbeyre, O.; Palin, A.; Rubio, A.; Largounez, A.; Besson-Fournier, C.; Latour, C.; Lorgouilloux, M.; Gallitz, I.; Montagner, A.; Polizzi, A.; Regnier, M.; Smati, S.; Zhang, A. S.; Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Steinbicker, A. U.; Guillou, H.; Roth, M. P.; Coppin, H.; Meynard, D.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress controls iron metabolism through TMPRSS6 repression and hepcidin mRNA stabilization by RNA-binding protein HuR Article de journal

Dans: Haematologica, vol. 106, no. 4, p. 1202-1206, 2021, ISSN: 1592-8721 (Electronic) 0390-6078 (Linking).

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2020

Lee, S.; Micalizzi, D.; Truesdell, S. S.; Bukhari, S. I. A.; Boukhali, M.; Lombardi-Story, J.; Kato, Y.; Choo, M. K.; Dey-Guha, I.; Ji, F.; Nicholson, B. T.; Myers, D. T.; Lee, D.; Mazzola, M. A.; Raheja, R.; Langenbucher, A.; Haradhvala, N. J.; Lawrence, M. S.; Gandhi, R.; Tiedje, C.; Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Sweetser, D. A.; Sadreyev, R.; Sykes, D.; Haas, W.; Haber, D. A.; Maheswaran, S.; Vasudevan, S.

A post-transcriptional program of chemoresistance by AU-rich elements and TTP in quiescent leukemic cells Article de journal

Dans: Genome Biol, vol. 21, no. 1, p. 33, 2020, ISSN: 1474-760X (Electronic) 1474-7596 (Linking).

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2019

Trulley, P.; Snieckute, G.; Bekker-Jensen, D.; Menon, M. B.; Freund, R.; Kotlyarov, A.; Olsen, J. V.; Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Turner, M.; Bekker-Jensen, S.; Gaestel, M.; Tiedje, C.

Alternative Translation Initiation Generates a Functionally Distinct Isoform of the Stress-Activated Protein Kinase MK2 Article de journal

Dans: Cell Rep, vol. 27, no. 10, p. 2859-2870 e6, 2019, ISSN: 2211-1247 (Electronic).

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Gentric, G.; Kieffer, Y.; Mieulet, V.; Goundiam, O.; Bonneau, C.; Nemati, F.; Hurbain, I.; Raposo, G.; Popova, T.; Stern, M. H.; Lallemand-Breitenbach, V.; Muller, S.; Caneque, T.; Rodriguez, R.; Vincent-Salomon, A.; de The, H.; Rossignol, R.; Mechta-Grigoriou, F.

PML-Regulated Mitochondrial Metabolism Enhances Chemosensitivity in Human Ovarian Cancers Article de journal

Dans: Cell Metab, vol. 29, no. 1, p. 156-173 e10, 2019, ISSN: 1932-7420 (Electronic) 1550-4131 (Linking).

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2018

Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Turner, M.

Uncovering the Role of RNA-Binding Proteins in Gene Expression in the Immune System Article de journal

Dans: Front Immunol, vol. 9, p. 1094, 2018, ISSN: 1664-3224 (Print) 1664-3224 (Linking).

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Givel, A. M.; Kieffer, Y.; Scholer-Dahirel, A.; Sirven, P.; Cardon, M.; Pelon, F.; Magagna, I.; Gentric, G.; Costa, A.; Bonneau, C.; Mieulet, V.; Vincent-Salomon, A.; Mechta-Grigoriou, F.

miR200-regulated CXCL12beta promotes fibroblast heterogeneity and immunosuppression in ovarian cancers Article de journal

Dans: Nat Commun, vol. 9, no. 1, p. 1056, 2018, ISSN: 2041-1723 (Electronic) 2041-1723 (Linking).

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Mendoza, P.; Martinez-Martin, N.; Bovolenta, E. R.; Reyes-Garau, D.; Hernansanz-Agustin, P.; Delgado, P.; Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Oeste, C. L.; Fernandez-Pisonero, I.; Castellano, E.; Martinez-Ruiz, A.; Alonso-Lopez, D.; Santos, E.; Bustelo, X. R.; Kurosaki, T.; Alarcon, B.

R-Ras2 is required for germinal center formation to aid B cells during energetically demanding processes Article de journal

Dans: Sci Signal, vol. 11, no. 532, 2018, ISSN: 1937-9145 (Electronic) 1945-0877 (Linking).

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Monzon-Casanova, E.; Screen, M.; Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Coulson, R. M. R.; Bell, S. E.; Lamers, G.; Solimena, M.; Smith, C. W. J.; Turner, M.

The RNA-binding protein PTBP1 is necessary for B cell selection in germinal centers Article de journal

Dans: Nat Immunol, vol. 19, no. 3, p. 267-278, 2018, ISSN: 1529-2916 (Electronic) 1529-2908 (Linking).

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Turner, M.; Diaz-Munoz, M. D.

RNA-binding proteins control gene expression and cell fate in the immune system Article de journal

Dans: Nat Immunol, vol. 19, no. 2, p. 120-129, 2018, ISSN: 1529-2916 (Electronic) 1529-2908 (Linking).

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2017

Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Monzon-Casanova, E.; Turner, M.

Characterization of the B Cell Transcriptome Bound by RNA-Binding Proteins with iCLIP Article de journal

Dans: Methods Mol Biol, vol. 1623, p. 159-179, 2017, ISSN: 1940-6029 (Electronic) 1064-3745 (Linking).

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Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Kiselev, V. Y.; Le Novere, N.; Curk, T.; Ule, J.; Turner, M.

Tia1 dependent regulation of mRNA subcellular location and translation controls p53 expression in B cells Article de journal

Dans: Nat Commun, vol. 8, no. 1, p. 530, 2017, ISSN: 2041-1723 (Electronic) 2041-1723 (Linking).

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2016

Tiedje, C.; Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Trulley, P.; Ahlfors, H.; Laass, K.; Blackshear, P. J.; Turner, M.; Gaestel, M.

The RNA-binding protein TTP is a global post-transcriptional regulator of feedback control in inflammation Article de journal

Dans: Nucleic Acids Res, vol. 44, no. 15, p. 7418-40, 2016, ISSN: 1362-4962 (Electronic) 0305-1048 (Linking).

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Galloway, A.; Saveliev, A.; Lukasiak, S.; Hodson, D. J.; Bolland, D.; Balmanno, K.; Ahlfors, H.; Monzon-Casanova, E.; Mannurita, S. C.; Bell, L. S.; Andrews, S.; Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Cook, S. J.; Corcoran, A.; Turner, M.

RNA-binding proteins ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2 promote cell quiescence Article de journal

Dans: Science, vol. 352, no. 6284, p. 453-9, 2016, ISSN: 1095-9203 (Electronic) 0036-8075 (Linking).

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2015

Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Bell, S. E.; Turner, M.

Deletion of AU-rich elements within the Bcl2 3'UTR reduces protein expression and B cell survival in vivo Article de journal

Dans: PLoS One, vol. 10, no. 2, p. e0116899, 2015, ISSN: 1932-6203 (Electronic) 1932-6203 (Linking).

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Diaz-Munoz, M. D.; Bell, S. E.; Fairfax, K.; Monzon-Casanova, E.; Cunningham, A. F.; Gonzalez-Porta, M.; Andrews, S. R.; Bunik, V. I.; Zarnack, K.; Curk, T.; Heggermont, W. A.; Heymans, S.; Gibson, G. E.; Kontoyiannis, D. L.; Ule, J.; Turner, M.

The RNA-binding protein HuR is essential for the B cell antibody response Article de journal

Dans: Nat Immunol, vol. 16, no. 4, p. 415-25, 2015, ISSN: 1529-2916 (Electronic) 1529-2908 (Linking).

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Soutiens

Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR) (AAPG2020, 2022 and 2024)

Institut national du cancer (INCA) (PLBIO 2021 and 2024)

Inserm ITMO-Cancer (2024)

Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM Team 2023)

La Ligue contre le cancer (2020 – 2022)

Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds (2020-2023) 

ATIP-Avenir, Plan Cancer, CNRS and INSERM (2018-2022)

Media

@diazmunoz-lab.bsky.social

twitter.com/DiazMunoz_Lab

Virginie Mieulet in Women in Science Week

Partenaires Equipe 2

Programme ATIP - Avenir

Programme ATIP - Avenir

Plan cancer 2014-2019

Plan cancer 2014-2019

CNRS

CNRS

ANR

ANR

L'INCA cancer

L'INCA cancer

Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds

Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds