Immunity, inflammation and cancer

Summary

Our group is focused on three research lines. Regarding the exonuclease TREX2, our studies have been pioneering in unraveling the specific expression of TREX2 in keratinocytes and its key role in skin carcinogenesis and psoriasis. We also study how chromatin factors integrate extracellular signals into the nucleus to regulate gene expression and ultimately, influence cell fate and behavior. Our aim is to understand chromatin dynamics in cancer disease to find novel therapeutic interventions. Concerning oncolytic vaccinia viruses (VACV), our group is focused on improving their capacity to generate robust antitumor immune responses through an activation of an Immunogenic Cancer Cell Death (ICD) after infection. In addition, combination of these agents with other cancer immunotherapies are also explored in order to achieve a combinatory immunotherapy with a real potential to cure solid tumors.

107 Publications

Strategic lines

Selected Publications

Manils J, Marruecos L, Soler C. Exonucleases: Degrading DNA to Deal with Genome Damage, Cell Death, Inflammation and Cancer. Cells. 2022;11(14):doi:10.3390/cells11142157.

Solé Morata N, Baenas I, Etxandi M, Granero R, Forcales SV, Gené M, Barrot C, Gómez Peña M, Menchón JM, Ramoz N, Gorwood P, Fernández Aranda F, Jiménez Murcia S. The role of neurotrophin genes involved in the vulnerability to gambling disorder. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):6925-6925. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-10391-w.

López-Cano M, Filgaira I, Nolen EG, Cabré G, Hernando J, Tosh DK, Jacobson KA*, Soler C*, Ciruela F*. Optical control of adenosine A3 receptor in psoriasis. Pharmacological Research 2021; 170:105731.

Riederer S, Fux R, Lehmann MH, Volz A, Sutter G, Rojas JJ. Activation of interferon regulatory factor 3 by replication-competent vaccinia viruses improves antitumor efficacy mediated by T cell responses. Molecular Therapy-Oncolytics 2021; 22:399-409.

Marruecos L, Manils J, Moreta C, Gómez D, Filgaira I, Serafin A, Cañas X, Espinosa L, Soler C. Single loss of a Trp53 allele triggers an increased oxidative, DNA damage and cytokine inflammatory responses through deregulation of IKBa expression. Cell Death and Disease 2021; 12(4):359.

Dumbovic G, Sanjuan X, Perucho M, Forcales SV. Stimulated emission depletion (STED) super resolution imaging of RNA- and protein-containing domains in fixed cells. Methods 2021; 187:68-76.

Selected Projects

Small molecule TREX2 inhibitors as novel non-immunosuppressive therapeutics for psoriasis. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. Ref. PDC2021-120879-I00. 149.500,00 €. 01/12/2021-30/11/2023. IP: Concepció Soler Prat. Entitat: Universitat de Barcelona.

New strategies to overcome limitations of immune-oncolytic vaccinia virus threapy. Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. Ref. PID2019-109102RA-I00. 145.200,00 €. 01/06/2020-31/05/2023. IP: Juan José Rojas Expósito. Entitat: Universitat de Barcelona.

Unravelling the mechanisms of macrosatellite NBL2 and its associated lncRNA, TNBL, in cancer; promising new biomarkers and targets for therapy. Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. Ref. PID2019-105278RB-I00. 145.200,00 €. 01/06/2020-30/05/2023. IP: Sònia-Vanina Forcales Fernàndez. Entitat: Universitat de Barcelona.

Function and mechanisms of TREX2 in skin pathogenesis. A novel strategy for the treatment of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. Ref. PID2020-114477RB-I00. 108.900,00 €. 01/09/2021-31/08/2024. IP: Concepció Soler Prat. Entitat: Universitat de Barcelona.

Targeting TREX2 as innovative keratinocyte-based therapy for psoriasis. “la Caixa” Foundation. Ref. CI20-00169. 70.000,00 €. 01/12/2020-31/05/2022. IP: Concepció Soler Prat. Entitat: Universitat de Barcelona.

Targeting TREX2: a novel apporach for skin-site psoriasis therapy. National Psoriasis Foundation (USA). 62.722,50 €. 01/09/2020-31/08/2021. IP: Concepció Soler Prat. Entitat: Universitat de Barcelona.

Technology transfer