Céline Deraison

Tissue homeostasis is disrupted in a number of chronic diseases. In particular, proteolytic homeostasis which plays major roles in tissue remodelling and in digestive organ functions, is disrupted in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, a better knowledge of the actors involved in proteolytic homeostasis is a major step towards disease comprehension and diagnostic. Two types of molecules regulate proteolytic homeostasis: proteases and protease inhibitors, defining the proteolytic status of the tissues. The characterization of the proteases hyperactive in the inflamed gut, their substrates, and the consequences of their increased activity will advance our knowledge of the biological cascades initiated by protease dysregulation in IBD.  We expect of our analysis of protease hyperactivity to identify control points in the mechanisms of disease that could be addressed by the development of specific inhibitors, as the basis of novel therapeutic approaches for IBD.