Abstract: The present invention concerns an in vitro test for detecting the irritant potential of chemicals combining a corneal cell model with a selection of predictive and qualitative molecular markers to classify compounds into 3 categories, namely irreversible eye damage 21 days after application (category 1), reversible eye damage 21 days after application (category 2) and no irritation (no category). The inventors have thus demonstrated that the response following the action of an irritant substance occurs directly on an in vitro reconstructed corneal epithelium, and that the degree of irritation and the qualification of this irritation of a molecule may be determined by the use of specific biomarkers of eye irritation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for evaluating the sensitizing potential of a test compound, and to a kit for implementing said method.

Abstract: A method for the in vitro production of a cell population P? from a cell population P, the production requiring the presence of at least one factor which is expressed by feeder cells, wherein a) feeder cells proliferate at a temperature T1, b) proliferated feeder cells are contacted with the cell population P, c) the cell mixture obtained at step (b) is cultivated at a temperature T2 which is chosen such that the cell population P proliferates and the feeder cells do not proliferate, the at least one factor being expressed by the feeder cells, and d) the cell population P? so produced is recovered. Advantageously, the production consists in an expansion, the feeder cells are insect feeder cells and the cell population P to be expanded is a T lymphocyte population, preferably a Trl lymphocyte population.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel polypeptides and to the use thereof for the in vitro assessment of the sensitizing potential of a test compound, to a method for the in vitro assessment of the sensitizing potential of a test compound, to an in vitro method for selecting a compound suitable for reducing the sensitization, as well as to kits for implementing such methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for analysing the effects of at least one parameter related to a volatile substance on a living test system, characterised in that it comprises: an enclosure (1) composed of a first compartment (20) comprising a gas inlet (21) and a gas outlet (22), and a second compartment (30) in which the test system and the volatile substance are located, the first (20) and second (30) compartments communicating with each other through an opening (11) fitted with a semi-permeable membrane (40) adapted to limit a flow of volatile substance from the second compartment (30) to the first compartment (20) in a determined manner, while allowing a gas flow from the first compartment (20) to the second compartment, (30), and the second compartment (30) being hermetically sealed such that the only exchanges with an outside medium take place towards the first compartment (20), through the membrane (40).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for evaluating the sensitizing potential of a test compound, and to a kit for implementing said method.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel polypeptides and to the use thereof for the in vitro assessment of the sensitising potential of a test compound, to a method for the in vitro assessment of the sensitising potential of a test compound, to an in vitro method for selecting a compound suitable for reducing the sensitisation, as well as to kits for implementing such methods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing antigen-specific Tr1 regulatory lymphocytes. The inventive method involves the use of artificial antigen-presenting cells expressing a molecule from the HLA class II system and a human LFA-3 molecule and expressing none of the B7-1, B7-2, B7-H1, CD40, CD23, or ICAM-1 costimulatory molecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating or preventing atherosclerosis comprising administering to a mammal in need of such a treatment a) an antigen which has been used to activate in vitro a Tri cell population originating from said mammal, and b) the TO cell population activated by said antigen, said TO cell population being obtained from a CD4+ T lymphocyte population of said mammal.

Abstract: An in vitro method for the obtention of a food- or auto-antigen specific Tr1 cell population from a leukocyte or a PBMC population, includes stimulating the PBMC or leukocyte population with the food- or auto-antigen, and recovering the food- or auto-antigen specific Tr1 cell population from the stimulated cell population. Preferably, the PBMC or leukocyte population is re-stimulated at least once with the same antigen after step (1), in the presence of IL-2 and at least one interleukin selected from the group consisting of IL-4 and IL-13. The in vitro method may further include a third step of expanding the recovered antigen-specific Tr1 cell population, advantageously by contacting them with feeder cells capable of expressing factors necessary for the expansion. Preferably, the feeder cells are recombinant insect feeder cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating or preventing weight loss of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases comprising administering to said patients an effective amount of Saccharomyces boulardii.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for identification of Tr1 lymphocyte regulators in a biological sample, based on the determination of the simultaneous presence of the molecular group CD4, CD18 and/or CD11a, CD49b and, where appropriate, by the demonstration of an over-expression of genes coding for the molecules CD4, PSGL-1, PECAM-1 and alphaV/beta3. The invention further relates to a method of quantification and a prognostic or diagnostic method for auto-immune or inflammatory diseases, based on said identification method. The invention also relates to an enrichment method for Tr1 lymphocyte regulators, based on the determination of the simultaneous presence of said molecules and, finally, an enriched composition from said enrichment method, for the treatment of an auto-immune or inflammatory disease, in particular Crohn's disease.

Abstract: A method for the in vitro production of a cell population P? from a cell population P, the production requiring the presence of at least one factor which is expressed by feeder cells, wherein a) feeder cells proliferate at a temperature T1, b) proliferated feeder cells are contacted with the cell population P, c) the cell mixture obtained at step (b) is cultivated at a temperature T2 which is chosen such that the cell population P proliferates and the feeder cells do not proliferate, the at least one factor being expressed by the feeder cells, and d) the cell population P? so produced is recovered. Advantageously, the production consists in an expansion, the feeder cells are insect feeder cells and the cell population P to be expanded is a T lymphocyte population, preferably a Trl lymphocyte population.

Abstract: An in vitro method for the obtention of a food- or auto-antigen specific Tr1 cell population from a leukocyte or a PBMC population, includes stimulating the PBMC or leukocyte population with the food- or auto-antigen, and recovering the food- or auto-antigen specific Tr1 cell population from the stimulated cell population. Preferably, the PBMC or leukocyte population is re-stimulated at least once with the same antigen after step (1), in the presence of IL-2 and at least one interleukin selected from the group consisting of IL-4 and IL-13. The in vitro method may further include a third step of expanding the recovered antigen-specific Tr1 cell population, advantageously by contacting them with feeder cells capable of expressing factors necessary for the expansion. Preferably, the feeder cells are recombinant insect feeder cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing antigen-specific Tr1 regulatory lymphocytes. The inventive method involves the use of artificial antigen-presenting cells, expressing a molecule from the HLA class II system and a human LFA-3 molecule and expressing none of the B7-1, B7-2, B7-H1, CD40, CD23 or ICAM-1 costimulation molecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating or preventing atherosclerosis comprising administering to a mammal in need of such a treatment a) an antigen which has been used to activate in vitro a Tri cell population originating from said mammal, and b) the TO cell population activated by said antigen, said TO cell population being obtained from a CD4+ T lymphocyte population of said mammal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a method of treating or preventing a disease selected from the group of skin and diseases of the mucosa, comprising administering topically to a mammal in need of such a treatment a topical medicinal product comprising a lipopeptide or a mixture thereof, wherein said lipopeptide comprises a peptide antigen specific for a T cell population, said peptide antigen being coupled covalently with a lipid radical and being capable of activating the T cell population. Such a use is more specifically intended for a transcutaneous application of the topical medicinal product, which is advantageously intended to prevent or treat a skin disease. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical or cosmetic formulations comprising the lipopeptide according to the invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating or preventing weight loss of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases comprising administering to said patients an effective amount of Saccharomyces boulardii.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing antigen-specific Tr1 regulatory lymphocytes. The inventive method involves the use of artificial antigen-presenting cells, expressing a molecule from the HLA class II system and a human LFA-3 molecule and expressing none of the B7-1, B7-2, B7-H1, CD40, CD23 or ICAM-1 costimulation molecules.