Group leader: Muriel Perron
Stem Cells and Neurogenesis in the Retina (SCaNR)
Center for Eye Research and Therapy in Ophthalmology (CERTO)
In brief
Our SCaNR research group is associated with the private laboratory of Retina France association, the CERTO. This allows us the originality of a double scientific approach, fundamental and applied. Using both Xenopus and the mouse as animal models, we seek to understand the mechanisms underlying the development, survival and regeneration of retinal cells, with the objective of therapeutic strategies, including neuroprotection, gene therapy and cell therapy.
![vignette-perron](https://neuropsi.cnrs.fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/vignette-perron.jpg)
Our goal is to contribute to scientific advances allowing the development of innovative therapeutic approaches for patients suffering from degenerative retinal diseases such as Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) or Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
Stem Cells and Retinal Regeneration
Cell therapy aims at revitalizing the regenerative capacity of the retina, which is naturally extremely limited in mammals. On the contrary, in fish or amphibians, different populations of stem cells contribute efficiently to the repair of the retina after injury. These species are therefore models of interest to dissect the signaling pathways controlling regenerative processes and thus to provide essential information to stimulate the proliferation and neurogenic potential of dormant mammalian retinal stem cells. In this context, we study and compare in Xenopus and mice, two models with very different regenerative capacities, the mechanisms underlying the maintenance, recruitment and activity of adult retinal stem cells under both physiological and pathological conditions of retinal degeneration.
Gene therapy
In recent years, gene therapy in the field of ophthalmology has shown extremely promising results. The objective of our preclinical study in mice is to develop a new gene therapy product based on the use of an AAV virus and targeting retinopathies associated with dominant mutations in the CRX gene.
Selected publications
- Bitard J., Grellier EK., Lourdel S., Prior Filipe H., Hamon A., Fenaille F., Castelli F.A., Chu-Van E., Roger J.E., Locker M. & Perron M. (2024). Uveitic glaucoma-like features in Yap conditional knockout mice. Cell Death Discov. 10, 48.
- Donval A., Hernandez Puente C.V., Lainé A., Roman D., Vessely R., Leclercq J., Perron M., Locker M. (2024). Awakening adult neural stem cells: NOX signalling as a positive regulator of the quiescence-to-proliferation transition in the Xenopus retina. Development, 151 (2), pp.dev201463.
- Parain, K., Chesneau, A., Locker, M., Borday, C. and Perron, M. (2024). Regeneration from three cellular sources and ectopic mini-retina formation upon neurotoxic retinal degeneration in Xenopus. Glia. Jan 15. doi: 10.1002/glia.24502
- Bocquet, B., Borday, C., Erkilic, N., Mamaeva, D., Donval, A., Masson, C., Parain, K., Kaminska, K., Quinodoz, M., Perea-Romero, I., et al. (2023). TBC1D32 variants disrupt retinal ciliogenesis and cause retinitis pigmentosa. JCI Insight 8, e169426
- Meléndez García R, Haccard O, Chesneau A, Narassimprakash H, Roger J, Perron M, Marheineke K, Bronchain O. (2022). A non-transcriptional function of Yap regulates the DNA replication program in Xenopus laevis – eLife 11:e75741.
- García-García D., Locker M., Perron M. (2020). Update on Müller glia regenerative potential for retinal repair. Curr Opin Genet Dev Jun 30;64:52-59.
- Hamon, A.*,García-García, D.*, Ail, D.*, Bitard, J., Chesneau A., Dalkara, D., Locker, M., Roger, J.§ and Perron, M.§ Linking YAP to Müller glia quiescence exit in the degenerative retina. Cell Reports, 2019, 7(6):1712-1725.e6., (doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.04.045) (hal-02136721v1)
- Langhe R.*, Chesneau A.*, Colozza G., Hidalgo M., Locker M. and Perron M. Müller glial cell reactivation in Xenopus models of retinal degeneration. Glia, 2017, 65(8):1333-1349, (doi: 10.1002/glia.23165) (hal-01661186v1)
Team leader
- Muriel Perron, Research Director, Vice-Director of NeuroPSI
Stem Cells & Neurogenesis in the Retina (SCaNR)room 1001
Members
- Caroline Borday, Assistant Professor Paris-Saclay University
Stem Cells & Neurogenesis in the Retina (SCaNR)room 1015 - Odile Bronchain, Professor Paris-Saclay University
Stem Cells & Neurogenesis in the Retina (SCaNR)room 1013 - Alicia Donval, Engineer Technician
Neuro-Histo, Stem Cells & Neurogenesis in the Retina (SCaNR)room 1015 - Alejandro Estrada Cuzcano, Research Scientist
Stem Cells & Neurogenesis in the Retina (SCaNR)room 1055 - Cinthia Violeta Hernandez Puente, PhD student
Stem Cells & Neurogenesis in the Retina (SCaNR)room 1005 - Morgane Locker, Professor Paris-Saclay University
Stem Cells & Neurogenesis in the Retina (SCaNR)room 1011 - Christel Masson-Garcia, CERTO Research Scientist
Stem Cells & Neurogenesis in the Retina (SCaNR)room 1055 - Patrick Pla, Assistant Professor Paris-Saclay University
Stem Cells & Neurogenesis in the Retina (SCaNR)room 1055
2024
- Bitard J., Grellier EK., Lourdel S., Prior Filipe H., Hamon A., Fenaille F., Castelli F.A., Chu-Van E., Roger J.E., Locker M. & Perron M. (2024). Uveitic glaucoma-like features in Yap conditional knockout mice. Cell Death Discov. 10, 48.
- Donval A., Hernandez Puente C.V., Lainé A., Roman D., Vessely R., Leclercq J., Perron M., Locker M. (2024). Awakening adult neural stem cells: NOX signalling as a positive regulator of the quiescence-to-proliferation transition in the Xenopus retina. Development, 151 (2), pp.dev201463.
- Parain, K., Chesneau, A., Locker, M., Borday, C. and Perron, M. (2024). Regeneration from three cellular sources and ectopic mini-retina formation upon neurotoxic retinal degeneration in Xenopus. Glia. Jan 15. doi: 10.1002/glia.24502
2023
- Bocquet, B., Borday, C., Erkilic, N., Mamaeva, D., Donval, A., Masson, C., Parain, K., Kaminska, K., Quinodoz, M., Perea-Romero, I., et al. (2023). TBC1D32 variants disrupt retinal ciliogenesis and cause retinitis pigmentosa. JCI Insight 8, e169426
- Donval, A., Hernandez Puente, C. V., Lainé, A., Roman, D., Vessely, R., Julien, L., Perron, M. and Locker, M. (2023). Awakening adult neural stem cells: NOX signalling as a positive regulator of quiescence to proliferation transition in the Xenopus retina. Development dev.201463.
- Parain, K., Donval, A., Chesneau, A., Lun, J. X., Borday, C. and Perron, M. (2023). Generating Retinal Degeneration to Investigate Cellular Repair Strategies in Xenopus. J Vis Exp 200, e65771.
2022
- Hottin C, Perron M, Roger JE. (2022). GSK3 Is a Central Player in Retinal Degenerative Diseases but a Challenging Therapeutic Target. Cells 11(18), 2898.
- Meléndez García R, Haccard O, Chesneau A, Narassimprakash H, Roger J, Perron M, Marheineke K, Bronchain O. (2022). A non-transcriptional function of Yap regulates the DNA replication program in Xenopus laevis – eLife 11:e75741.
- Parain K, Lourdel S, Donval A, Chesneau A, Borday C, Bronchain O, Locker M, Perron M. (2022). CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Models of Retinitis Pigmentosa Reveal Differential Proliferative Response of Müller Cells between Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis – Cells 11(5):807.
2021
- Kisseleff E, Vigouroux RJ, Hottin C, Lourdel S, Thomas L, Shah P, Chédotal A, Perron M, Swaroop A, Roger JE (2021). Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Regulates the Genesis of Displaced Retinal Ganglion Cells. – eNeuro 8(5):ENEURO.0171-21.2021.
2020
- Masson C., García-García D., Bitard J., Grellier É-K., Roger J.E., Perron M. (2020). Yap haploinsufficiency leads to Müller cell dysfunction and late-onset cone dystrophy. bioRxiv.02.18.953943 – Cell Death Dis 11, 631.
- García-García D., Locker M., Perron M. (2020). Update on Müller glia regenerative potential for retinal repair. Curr Opin Genet Dev Jun 30;64:52-59.
2019
- Hamon, A.*,García-García, D.*, Ail, D.*, Bitard, J., Chesneau A., Dalkara, D., Locker, M., Roger, J.§ and Perron, M.§ (2019). Linking YAP to Müller glia quiescence exit in the degenerative retina. Cell Reports, 7(6):1712-1725.e6., (doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.04.045) (hal-02136721v1)
- Locker M, Perron M. (2019). In Vivo Assessment of Neural Precursor Cell Cycle Kinetics in the Amphibian Retina. Cold Spring Harb Protoc. Aug 1;2019(8). doi: 10.1101/pdb.prot105536.
2018
- Chesneau A.*, Bronchain O.* and Perron M. (2018). Conditional chemogenetic ablation of photoreceptor cells in Xenopus retina Methods in Molecular Biology, Springer Nature, 1865:133-146.
- Assawachananont J., Kim S.Y., Kaya K.D., Fariss R., Roger J.E., Swaroop A. (2018). Cone-rod homeobox CRX controls presynaptic active zone formation in photoreceptors of mammalian retina. Hum Mol Genet. Jul 31.
- Borday C. §, Parain K. §, Tran H.T., Vleminckx K., Perron M.§ and Anne-Hélène Monsoro-Burq A.H.§ (2018). An atlas of Wnt activity during embryogenesis in Xenopus tropicalis Plos One 13(4):e0193606.
- Zhang Y., Zhao L., Wang X., Ma X., Lazere A., Qian H.H., Zhang J., Abu-Asab M., Fariss R.N., Roger J.E., Wong W.T. (2018). Repopulating microglia restore endogenous organization and function under CX3CL1-CX3CR1 regulation Sci Adv. 21 EAAP8492.
2017
- Campla, C.K., Breit, H., Dong, L., Gumerson, J.D., Roger, J.E., and Swaroop, A. (2017). Pias3 is necessary for dorso-ventral patterning and visual response of retinal cones but is not required for rod photoreceptor differentiation Biol. Open 6, 881–890.
- Langhe R.*, Chesneau A.*, Colozza G., Hidalgo M., Locker M. and Perron M. Müller glial cell reactivation in Xenopus models of retinal degeneration. Glia, 2017, 65(8):1333-1349, (doi: 10.1002/glia.23165) (hal-01661186v1)
- Bessodes N, Parain K, Bronchain O, Bellefroid EJ, Perron M. (2017). Prdm13 forms a feedback loop with Ptf1a and is required for glycinergic amacrine cell genesis in the Xenopus Retina Neural Development 2017 12(1):16.
- Schietroma C, Parain K, Estivalet A, Aghaie A, Boutet de Monvel J, Picaud S, Sahel J-A, Perron M, El-Amraoui and Petit C. (2017). Shaping of the photoreceptor outer segment by the calyceal processes of the inner segment Journal of Cell Biology 216(6):1849-1864.
- Hamon A, Masson C, Bitard B, Gieser L, Roger JE, Perron M. (2017). Retinal Degeneration Triggers the Activation of YAP/TEAD in Reactive Müller Cells IOVS 58 : 1941-1953.
- Ail D & Perron M. (2017). Retinal Degeneration and Regeneration-Lessons From Fishes and Amphibians Current Pathobiology Reports 5(1) : 67-78.
2016
- Pfirrmann T, Jandt E, Ranft S, Lokapally A, Neuhaus H, Perron M & Hollemann T. (2016). Hedgehog-dependent E3-ligase Midline1 regulates ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation of Pax6 during visual system development Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113(36):10103-8.
- Hamon A, Roger JE, Yang XJ, Perron M. (2016). Müller glial cell-dependent regeneration of the neural retina : An overview across vertebrate model systems Dev Dyn. 245(7):727-38.
2015
- Cabochette P*, Vega-Lopez G*, Bitard J, Parain K, Chemouny R, Masson C, Borday C, Hedderich M, Henningfeld K, Locker M, Bronchain O§, Perron M§. YAP controls retinal stem cell DNA replication timing and genomic stability. eLife, 2015, 4:e08488, (doi: 10.7554/eLife.08488) (hal-01240857v1). Post in The Node on October 7th, 2015
2014
- Mazurier N*, Parain K*, Parlier D, Pretto S, Vernier P, Locker M, Bellefroid E & Perron M. (2014). Ascl1 as a novel player in the Ptf1a transcriptional network for GABAergic cell specification in the retina. Plos One 9(3):e92113.
- Hanotel J, Bessodes N, Thélie A, Hedderich M, Parain K, Van Driessche B, Oliveira Brandao K, Kricha S, Jorgensen M, Grapin-Botton A, Serup P, Van Lint C, Perron M, Pieler T, Henningfeld KA & Bellefroid EJ. (2014). The Prdm13 histone methyltransferase encoding gene is a Ptf1a-Rbp-j downstream target that promotes GABAergic over glutamatergic neuronal fate in the dorsal neural tube. Developmental Biology 386:340-57.
- Hidalgo M*, Locker M*, Chesneau A & Perron M. (2014). Adult neurogenesis and regeneration in amphibian retina. In Regenerative Biology of the Eye, Ed Springer. Chapter 4, 83-99.
2013
- Locker M & Perron M. (2013). New advances in morphogen gradient modelling. Physics of Life Reviews 10(4) : 478-9. Reply to Comments 10(4) : 495-497
2012
- Auger H, Thuret R, El Yakoubi W, Papalopulu N. (2012). A bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) based protocol for characterizing proliferating progenitors in Xenopus embryos. Methods Mol. Biol., Xenopus Protocols 917:461-75.
- Colozza G, Locker M & Perron M (2012). Shaping the eye from embryonic stem cells : Biological and medical implications. World J Stem Cells 4(8):80-86.
- Kaya F, Mannioui A, Chesneau A, Sekizar S, Maillard E, Ballagny C, Houel-Renault L, Dupasquier D, Bronchain O, Holtzmann I, Desmazieres A, Thomas JL, Demeneix BA, Brophy PJ, Zalc B & Mazabraud A. (2012). Live Imaging of Targeted Cell Ablation in Xenopus : A New Model to Study Demyelination and Repair. J. Neurosci. 32(37):12885-12895.
- Hes4 controls proliferative properties of neural stem cells during retinal ontogenesis. (2012). El Yakoubi W, Borday C, Hamdache J, Parain K, Tran HT, Vleminckx K, Perron M§ & Locker M§ Stem Cells 30(12):2784-95
- Borday C*, Cabochette P*, Parain K, Mazurier N, Janssens S, Tran HT, Sekkali B, Bronchain O, Vleminckx K, Locker M & Perron M. (2012). Antagonistic cross-regulation between Wnt and Hedgehog signaling pathways controls post-embryonic retinal proliferation. Development 139(19):3499-509.
- Parain K*, Mazurier N*, Bronchain O, Borday C, Cabochette P, Chesneau A, Colozza G, el Yakoubi W, Hamdache J, Gilchrist M, Pollet N & Perron M. (2010). A large scale screen for neural stem cell markers in Xenopus retina. Developmental Neurobiology 72(4):491-506.
2011
- Perron M. (2011). 3D revolution of stem cells : building a retina in vitro. Médecine/Sciences 2011 Aug-Sep ;27(8-9):709-12.
- Colozza G, Mazabraud A & Perron M. (2011). Degeneration and Regeneration in the Vertebrate Retina Advances in Regenerative Medicine, Dr Sabine Wislet-Gendebien (Ed.), ISBN : 978-953-307-732-1, InTech, DOI : 10.5772/25843.
- Perron M, Locker M & Bronchain O. (2011). Stem cells to repair retina : from basic to applied biology. In Stem Cells and Cancer Stem Cells, Ed Springer. Volume 2 Part 4, 299-306, DOI : 10.1007/978-94-007-2016-9_32.
2010
- Locker M, El Yakoubi W, Mazurier N, Dullin JP & Perron M. (2010). A decade of mammalian retinal stem cell research. Arch Ital Biol. 148:59-72.
2009
- Gilchrist M J., M Christensen, O Bronchain, F Brunet, A Chesneau, U Fenger, T Geach, H Ironfield, F Kaya, S Kricha, R Lea, K Masse, I Néant, E Paillard, K Parain, M Perron, L Sinzelle, J Souopgui, R Thuret, Q Ymlahi-Ouazzani & N Pollet (2009). A Database of Queryable Gene Expression Patterns for Xenopus. Developmental Dynamics Special Issue : Special Focus on Xenopus. 238(6):1379-88. Highlights in DD, Developmental Dynamics October 2009
- Wu H.Y., Perron M. & Hollemann T. (2009). The role of Xenopus Rx-L in photoreceptor cell determination. Developmental Biology 327(2):352-65.
- Locker M, Borday C. & Perron M. (2009). Stemness or not stemness ? Current status and perspectives of adult retinal stem cells. Current stem cell research & Therapy 4(2):118-30
- Bronchain O, Ymlahi-Ouazzani Q, Paillard E, Ballagny C, Chesneau A, Jadaud A, Mazabraud A & Pollet N. (2009). Reduced levels of survival motor neuron protein leads to aberrant motoneuron growth in a Xenopus model of muscular atrophy. Neurogenetics Jun 11.
2008
- Richards G, Simionato E, Perrron M, Adamska M, Vervoort M & Degnan B M. (2008). Sponge Genes Provide New Insight into the Evolutionary Origin of the Neurogenic Circuit. Current Biology 18(15):1156-61.
- Denayer T*, Locker M*, Borday C, Deroo T, Janssens S, Hecht A, van Roy F, Perron M§ & Vleminckx K.§ (2008). Canonical Wnt signaling controls proliferation of retinal stem/progenitor cells in postembryonic Xenopus eyes. Stem Cells 26(8):2063-74.
- Chesneau A, Sachs LM, Chai N, Chen Y, Du Pasquier L, Loeber J, Pollet N, Reilly M, Weeks DL & Bronchain OJ. (2008). Transgenesis procedures in Xenopus. Biol. Cell 100(9):503-21.
2007
- Fierro AC, Thuret R, Coen L, Perron M, Demeneix BA, Wegnez M, Gyapay G, Weissenbach J, Wincker P, Mazabraud A & Pollet N. (2007). Exploring nervous system transcriptomes during embryogenesis and metamorphosis in Xenopus tropicalis using EST analysis. BMC Genomics 16(8):118
- Henningfeld, K., Locker M & Perron, M. (2007). Neuron and glial cell differentiation in Xenopus. Functional Development and Embryology 1, 26-36.
- Dullin JP*, Locker M*, Robach M*, Henningfeld KA, Parain K, Afelik S, Pieler T & Perron M. (2007). Ptf1a triggers GABAergic neuronal cell fates in the retina. BMC Dev Biol. 2(7):110.
- Agathocleous M, Locker M, Harris WA & Perron M. (2007). A general role of hedgehog in the regulation of proliferation. Cell Cycle 6(2):156-9.
- Bronchain OJ, Pollet N, Ymlahi-Ouazzani Q, Dhorne-Pollet S, Helbling JC, Lecarpentier JE, Percheron K & Wegnez M. (2007). The olig family : phylogenetic analysis and early gene expression in Xenopus tropicalis. Dev Genes Evol. 217(7):485-97.
- Broders-Bondon F, Chesneau A, Romero-Oliva F, Mazabraud A, Mayor R & Thiery JP (2007). Regulation of XSnail2 expression by RhoGTPases. Dev.Dyn. 236(9):2555-66.
2006
- Locker, M.*, Agathocleous, M.*, Amato, M.A., Parain, K., Harris, W.A. & Perron, M. (2006). Hedgehog signaling and the retina : insights into the mechanisms controlling the proliferative properties of neural precursors. Genes and Development 20 : 303—6-048.
- This article was recommended in F1000Prime, 10 Oct 2015 ; F1000Prime.com/1061749
- Sölter, M. *, Locker, M. *, Boy, S., Taelman, V., Bellefroid, E.J. & Perron, M.§, and Pieler, T.§ (2006). Characterization and function of the bHLH-O protein XHes2 : insight into the mechanisms controlling retinal cell fate decision. Development 133, 4097-4108.
- Pasquet S, Naye F, Faucheux C, Bronchain O, Chesneau A, Thiébaud P & Thézé N. (2006). Transcription enhancer factor-1-dependent expression of the alpha-tropomyosin gene in the three muscle cell types. J. Biol. Chem. 10 ;281(45):34406-20.
- Du Pasquier D, Phung AC, Ymlahi-Ouazzani Q, Sinzelle L, Ballagny C, Bronchain O, Du Pasquier L & Mazabraud A. (2006). Survivin increased vascular development during Xenopus ontogenesis.Differentiation 74(5):244-53.
- Van Campenhout C, Nichane M, Antoniou A, Pendeville H, Bronchain OJ, Marine JC, Mazabraud A, Voz ML & Bellefroid EJ. (2006). Evi1 is specifically expressed in the distal tubule and duct of the Xenopus pronephros and plays a role in its formation. Dev. Biol. 1 ;294(1):203-19.
- Sinzelle L, Vallin J, Coen L, Chesneau A, Du Pasquier D, Pollet N, Demeneix B & Mazabraud A. (2006). Generation of trangenic Xenopus laevis using the Sleeping Beauty transposon system. Transgenic Research 15, 751-760.
- D. Du Pasquier, A. Chesneau, N. Pollet, C. Ballagny, L.M. Sachs, B. Demeneix & A. Mazabraud (2006). TBid mediated Activation of the Mitochondrial Death Pathway leads to Genetic Ablation of the lens in Xenopus laevis. Genesis 45, 1-10.
- Sinzelle L, Chesneau A, Bigot Y, Mazabraud A & Pollet N (2006). The mariner transposons belonging to the irritans subfamily were maintained in chordate genomes by vertical transmission. Journal of Molecular Evolution 62, 53-65.
- D. Du Pasquier, V. Rincheval, L. Sinzelle, A. Chesneau, C. Ballagny, LM. Sachs, B. Demeneix & A. Mazabraud. (2006). Developmental cell death during Xenopus metamorphosis involves Bid cleavage and caspase 2 and 8 activation. Dev Dyn. 235:2083-2094.
2005
- Amato M.A., Boy S., Arnault E., Della Puppa A., Girard M., Sharif A. & Perron M. (2005). Comparison of the expression of five neural-specific RNA binding proteins in the Xenopus retina. Journal of Comparative Neurology 481 : 331-339.
- Coolen M, Sii-Felice K, Bronchain O, Mazabraud A, Bourrat F, Rétaux S, Felder-Schmittbuhl MP, Mazan S, Plouhinec JL. (2005). Phylogenomic analysis and expression patterns of large Maf genes in Xenopus tropicalis provide new insights into the functional evolution of the gene family in osteichthyans. Dev. Genes Evol. 215(7):327-39.
2004
- Amato M.A., Arnault E. and Perron M. (2004). Retinal stem cells in vertebrates : parallels and divergences. Int. J Dev Biol. “Eye development” special issue 48 : 993-100.
- Agnès F. and Perron M. (2004). RNA binding proteins and neural development : a matter of targets and complexes. NeuroReport 15(17):2567-70.
- Boy S., Souopgui J., Amato M.A., Wegnez M., Pieler T. and Perron M. (2004). XSEB4R, a novel RNA-binding protein involved in retinal cell differentiation downstream of bHLH proneural genes. Development 131 : 851-62.
- Amato M.A., Boy S. and Perron M. (2004). Hedgehog signalling in vertebrate retinal development : a growing puzzle. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 61(7-8):899-910.
2003
- Perron M, Boy S, Amato MA, Viczian A, Koebernick K, Pieler T, Harris WA. (2003). A novel function for Hedgehog signalling in retinal pigment epithelium differentiation. Development 130:1565-77.
2002
- Ohnuma S, Mann F, Boy S, Perron M, Harris WA. (2002). Lipofection strategy for the study of Xenopus retinal development. Methods 28:411-9.
2001
- Nutt SL, Bronchain OJ, Hartley KO, Amaya E. (2001). Comparison of morpholino based translational inhibition during the development of Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis. Genesis 30(3):110-3.
2000
- Perron, M. and Harris, W.A. (2000). Retinal stem cells in vertebrates. Bioessays 22, 685-688.
- Perron, M. and Harris, W.A. (2000). Determination of vertebrate retinal progenitor cell fate by the Notch pathway and basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 57 : 215-223.
The retina and ophthalmic diseases
Meet researchers who have received funding from Unadev (Union Nationale des Aveugles et Déficients Visuels) as part of the call “Vision diseases: origins and treatments”.
Retine TV is the YouTube channel of the Retina France association. In Retina TV#6, Muriel Perron and Jérôme Roger present the CERTO, which combines fundamental and therapeutic research.
Muriel PERRON – CNRS Research Director & Jérôme ROGER – Retina France Researcher
Jérôme Roger presents his research project at a medical symposium of the association Retina France
Jérôme ROGER – Retina France Researcher
« My Thesis in 180 secondes », Final of University Paris-Saclay 2021
Catherine HOTTIN – PhD student
L’Oréal-UNESCO Young Talents France for Women in Science Award 2019
Diana García-García – PhD student
« My Thesis in 180 secondes », Final of University Paris-Saclay 2017
Elena Braginskaja – PhD student
- Pint of Science 2018
- Meeting with the writer François Bon, crossroads between art and science 2012: digression sur les explorateurs du vivant ; danse avec les xénopes
- Jeudi de la recherche 2016
- Jeudi de la recherche 2008
Doctoral schools
Our team is affiliated to BIO-SigNE and SDSV Doctoral Schools of the University Paris-Saclay.
Previous and current PhD students in our team
• Jing Xian Lun
Thesis: Oct 22 – Sept 26 (CSC scholarship, BioSigne Doctoral School)
PhD directors: Caroline Borday and Muriel Perron
Project: Shaping the neuroinflammatory environment to promote retinal regeneration
• Julien Ricard
Thesis: Oct 23 – Sept 26 (Fondation de France scholarship, BioSigne Doctoral School)
PhD directors: Juliette Bitard and Muriel Perron
Project: Towards regenerative medicine to treat retinal dystrophies: characterization of factors regulating the regenerative potential of Müller glia
• Demi Van Westendorp
Thesis: Oct 23 – Sept 26 (ministry scholarship, SDSV Doctoral School)
PhD directors: Patrick Pla and Muriel Perron
Project: Notch signalling: a new player in inflammation/regeneration coupling in the retina?
• Violeta Hernandez Puente
Thesis: Jan 22 – Dec 25 (CONACYT scholarship, SDSV Doctoral School)
PhD director: Morgane Locker
Project: Redox control of stemness: an analysis of ROS function and antioxidant pathways in retinal stem cells
• Catherine Hottin
Thesis : Oct 20 – Sept 23 (ministry scholarship, BIO-SigNE Doctoral School)
PhD directors: Jérôme Roger and Muriel Perron
Project: Deciphering Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 neuroprotective effects to treat retinal degenerative diseases
Finale de “Ma Thèse en 180 secondes” de l’Université Paris-Saclay
• Diana García-García
Thesis: Nov 17 – Dec 20 (FRM scholarship, BIO-SigNE Doctoral School)
PhD director: Muriel Perron
Project: Müller cells and retinal regeneration : the role of Hippo/YAP signaling pathway
Prix Jeunes Talents France L’Oréal-UNESCO pour les femmes et la science 2019
• Rodrigo Meléndez García
Thesis: Sept 16 – August 20 (CONACYT scholarship, BIO-SigNE Doctoral School)
PhD director: Odile Bronchain and Muriel Perron
Project: YAP as a regulator of DNA replication timing
• Elena Braginskaja
Thesis: Oct 14 – Mars 18 (german ministry scholarship, BIO-SigNE Doctoral School)
PhD directors: Jérôme Roger and Muriel Perron
Project: Role of the Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 for the Retinal Development and Homeostasis
Finale de “Ma Thèse en 180 secondes” de l’Université Paris-Saclay
• Annaïg Hamon
Thesis: Oct 14 – Déc 17 (Retina France scholarship, ARC scholarship for the 4th year, BIO-SigNE Doctoral School)
PhD director: Muriel Perron
Project: Study of Hippo/YAP signaling in Müller glial cells under physiological or pathological degenerative conditions in the mouse retina
• Pauline Cabochette
Thesis: Oct 11 – Déc 14 (ministry scholarship, BIO-SigNE Doctoral School)
PhD directors: Odile Bronchain and Muriel Perron
Project: Characterization of the signaling network involved in the maintenance and proliferation of xenopus retinal stem cells
• Warif El Yakoubi
Thesis: Oct 08 – Oct 12 (ministry scholarship, Retina France scholarship for the 4th year, École doctorale BIO-SigNE)
PhD directors: Morgane Locker and Muriel Perron
Project: Role of Hes1 and Hes4 transcriptional repressors in retinal stem cell maintenance in Xenopus Laevis
• Nicolas Mazurier
Thesis: Oct 09 – Dec 12 (Neuropôle scholarship, BIO-SigNE Doctoral School)
PhD director: Muriel Perron
Project: Studying maintenance and specification mechanisms in stem and progenitors cells in Xenopus retina
• Jean-Philippe Dullin
Thesis: Oct 06 – Oct 10 (ministry scholarship, ARC scholarship for the 4th year, École doctorale BIO-SigNE)
PhD director: Muriel Perron
Project: Cellular diversity in the retina : Study of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulators
• Marcos Amato
Thesis: Janv. 02 – Fév. 05 (Européen scholarship, SDSV Doctoral School)
PhD director: Muriel Perron
Project: Investigating the role of the Hedgehog signaling in retinal stem cell proliferation in Xenopus laevis.
• Sébastien Boy
Thesis: Oct 01 – Déc. 04 (ministry scholarship, SDSV Doctoral School)
PhD director: Muriel Perron
Project: Study of transcriptional and post-transcriptional factors involved in retinal cell specification in Xenopus laevis.
Technical platform for transgenesis and genome editing in Xenopus
Scientific Manager
Odile Bronchain
Maître de Conférence, Université Paris-Saclay
Tél : +331 69 15 75 72
Technical Manager
Albert Chesneau
Ingénieur d’études, CNRS
Tél : +331 69 15 63 35
Within our team, and thanks to this plastform, we have develop transgenic and genome editing tools as well as various knock-down techniques. Here are some examples:
- Using the REMI transgenesis technique, we have developed an inducible and reversible photoreceptor degeneration model in Xenopus laevis to study retinal regeneration processes (see Chesneau et al. Methods Mol Biol. 2018; Langhe et al., Glia 2017).
- We generate and/or maintain in the laboratory transgenic lines, such as reporter for signaling pathways (Wnt: Borday et al. Plos One 2018; Borday et al. Development 2012) or specific to a retinal cell type such as Müller cells (work in progress).
- We have developed models of retinitis pigmentosa (a degenerative photoreceptor disease in humans) in both Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis using CRISPR-Cas9. These models allow us to study the reactivation of stem cells under pathological conditions (work in progress).
- We routinely use morpholino antisense oligonucleotides to block the translation or splicing of a target gene. We have developed the use of photoactivatable morpholinos allowing inducible or reversible loss of function (see Cabochette et al. Elife 2015).
- Until now, to study the function of a protein, scientists have used techniques targeting the gene or transcripts encoding the protein of interest. We have recently developed a new technique in Xenopus called Trim-Away, which allows to directly deplete a protein (work in progress). This technique exploits the properties of a recently discovered protein called TRIM21 which, in combination with an antibody recognizing the protein of interest, has the remarkable ability to target the antibody-protein complex towards its destruction in the proteasome.
- Given these expertises in Xenopus, we regularly establish collaborations with teams outside the laboratory (some examples: Sena et al. Development 2019; Della Gaspera et al., Dev Biol 2018; Schietroma et al., JCB 2017; Kaya et al. J. Neurosci. 2012).