Renée Bazin, Ph.D.

Director, innovation Ph.D. Biochemistry, Laval University, 1988 Adjunct Professor at the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Engineering and at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University Tel.: 418-780-4362, ext. 3234 Fax: 418-780-2091 Renee.Bazin@hema-quebec.qc.ca

Research interests:

• Molecular and cellular immunology, stem cells and immunosuppression

Current projects:

• Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Immunosuppression
• Hematopoietic Reconstitution Potential of Cord Blood Stem Cells

Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Immunosuppression

The introduction of cellular therapies has led to new approaches in the treatment of many human diseases. In addition to the clinical use of hematopoietic stem cells for immune reconstitution, mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), another type of stem cell, is increasingly attracting attention. Indeed, MSCs have been shown to exert immunosuppressive effects in the treatment of patients suffering from graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). MSCs can be obtained from several sources, including bone marrow, adipose tissue and neonatal tissues such as the umbilical cord and Wharton's jelly. The data available to date indicate that MSCs are safe and immunologically well-tolerated, allowing the use of MSCs prepared from unmatched donors. The aim of our project is to compare the immunosuppressive potential of MSCs from different sources (umbilical cord , bone marrow and adipose tissue) and to select and define optimal parameters for qualifying the therapeutic potential of MSCs in the treatment of GvHD.

Hematopoietic Reconstitution Potential of Cord Blood Stem Cells

Héma-Québec operates the sole public cord blood bank in the Province of Québec. This bank provides the material used for transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells to hospitals. Cord blood banking is done under a regulated environment implemented by the Stem Cell and Reference and Laboratory at Héma-Québec. This procedure includes a step during which the product can be incubated for periods of up to 48 hours at room temperature. The effects of exposure to variable delays and prolonged incubation at room temperature before cryopreservation on the quality and functions of stem cells are currently unknown. In this project, we evaluate the effects of incubation of cord blood at room temperature or at 4°C for variable periods of up to 48 hours on the viability of stem cells. In addition, we measure the ability of these cells to reconstitute the hematopoietic system using the NOD/SCID gamma-null (NSG) mouse model of transplantation. This work will allow us to optimize procedures for cord blood banking in order to preserve the full potential of hematopoietic reconstitution of cord blood stem cells.

Expertise:

• Mesenchymal stem cells
• Immune cells
• Immunomodulation and immunosuppression
• Animal models
• Cell culture
• Immunochemistry
• Assay development

Recent publications:

• Padet L, Loubaki L, Bazin R. (2015). Use of IVIg to identify potential miRNA targets for allograft rejection and GvHD therapy. Clin Transplant (Clinical Transplantation) 29 (06): 543-546.
• Loubaki L, Chabot D, Bazin R. (2015). Involvement of the TNF-α/TGF-β/IDO axis in IVIg-induced immune tolerance. Cytokine (Cytokine) 71 (2): 181-187.
• Dumont N, Boyer L, Émond H, Çelebi-Saltik B, Pasha R, Bazin R, Mantovani D, Roy DC, Pineault N. (2014). Medium conditioned with mesenchymal stromal cell-derived osteoblasts improves the expansion and engraftment properties of cord blood progenitors. Exp Hematol (Experimental Hematology) 42 (09): 741-752.
• Padet L, Bazin R. (2014). Effects of IVIg on T Cell Functions. Dans Allegro R, Plasmapheresis and Intravenous Immunoglobin: Clinical Uses, Potential Complications and Long-Term Health Effects. Recent Advances in Hematology Research (Nova Science Publishers, Inc.): 107-134.
• Padet L, Loubaki L, Bazin R. (2014). Induction of PD-L1 on monocytes: A new mechanism by which IVIg inhibits mixed lymphocyte reactions. Immunobiology (Immunobiology) 219 (09): 687-694.
• St-Amour I, Paré I, Tremblay C, Coulombe K, Bazin R, Calon F. (2014). IVIg protects the 3xTg-AD mouse model of Alzheimer's disease from memory deficit and Abeta pathology. J Neuroinflamm (Journal of Neuroinflammation) 11: 54.
• Trépanier P, Chabot D, Bazin R. (2014). Intravenous immunoglobulin modulates the expansion and cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells. Immunology (Immunology) 141 (2): 233-241.
• St-Amour I, Paré I, Alata W, Coulombe K, Ringuette-Goulet C, Drouin-Ouellet J, Soulet D, Bazin R, Calon F. (2013). Brain bioavailability of intravenous immunoglobulin and its transport through the blood brain barrier in a mouse model. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab (Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism) 33 (12): 1983-1992.
• Trépanier P, St-Amour I, Bazin R. (2013). Cationized IVIg as a potential substitute to IVIg for the treatment of experimental immune thrombocytopenia. Int Immunopharmacol (International Immunopharmacology) 16 (04): 409-413.
• Loubaki L, Tremblay T, Bazin R. (2013). In vivo depletion of leukocytes and platelets following injection of T cell-specific antibodies into mice. J Immunol Methods (Journal of Immunological Methods) 393 (1-2): 38-44.
• Padet L, Bazin R. (2013). IVIg prevents the in vitro activation of T cells by neutralizing the T cell activators. Immunol Lett (Immunology Letters) 150 (1-2): 54-60.
• Tremblay T, Paré I, Bazin R. (2013). Immunoglobulin G dimers and immune complexes are dispensable for the therapeutic efficacy of intravenous immune globulin in murine immune thrombocytopenia. Transfusion (Transfusion) 53 (02): 261-269.
• Paquin Proulx D, Rouleau P, Paré I, Vallières-Noël MM, Bazin R. (2012). Interaction between intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1: A role for transcytosis across the blood brain barrier? J Neuroimmunol (Journal of Neuroimmunology) 251 (1-2): 39-44.   
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• St-Amour I, Bousquet M, Paré I, Drouin-Ouellet J, Cicchetti F, Bazin R, Calon F. (2012). Impact of intravenous immunoglobulin on the dopaminergic system and immune response in the acute MPTP mouse model of Parkinson's disease. J Neuinflammation (Journal of Neuroinflammation) 9: 234.
• Trépanier P, Bazin R. (2012). Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) inhibits CD8 cytotoxic T-cell activation. Blood (Blood) 120 (13): 2769-2770.
• Trépanier P, Aubin É, Bazin R. (2012). IVIg-mediated inhibition of antigen presentation: Predominant role of naturally occurring cationic IgG. Clin Immunol (Clinical Immunology) 142 (3): 383-389.
• Padet L, St-Amour I, Aubin É, Bazin R. (2011). Neutralization of mitogenic lectins by IVIg prevents T cell activation: Does IVIg really have a direct effect on T cells? Clin Exp Immunol (Clinical & Experimental Immunology) 166 (3): 352-360.
• Aubin É, Paquin Proulx D, Trépanier P, Lemieux R,  Bazin R. (2011). Prevention of T cell activation by interference of internalized intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) with MHC II-dependent native antigen presentation. Clin Immunol (Clinical Immunology) 141 (3): 273-283. 
• Aubin É, Roberge C, Lemieux R, Bazin R. (2011). Immunomodulatory effects of therapeutic preparations of human albumin. Vox Sang (Vox Sanguinis) 101 (2): 131-137.
• Paquin Proulx D, Aubin É, Lemieux R, Bazin R. (2010). Inhibition of B cell-mediated antigen presentation by intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg). Clin Immunol (Clinical Immunology) 135 (3): 422-429.
• Aubin É, Lemieux R, Bazin R. (2010). Indirect inhibition of in vivo and in vitro T-cell responses by intravenous immunoglobulins due to impaired antigen presentation. Blood (Blood) 115 (09): 1727-1734.
• Bazin R, St-Amour I, Laroche A, Lemieux R. (2010). Activated cryptic granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor autoantibodies in intravenous immunoglobulin preparations. Blood (Blood) 115 (02): 431.
• St-Amour I, Laroche A, Bazin R, Lemieux R. (2009). Activation of cryptic IgG reactive with BAFF, amyloid beta peptide and GM-CSF during the industrial fractionation of human plasma into therapeutic intravenous immunoglobulins. Clin Immunol (Clinical Immunology) 133 (1): 52-60.
• Padet L, St-Amour I, Aubin É, Paquin Proulx D, Bazin R, Lemieux R. (2009). Dose-dependent inhibition of BrdU detection in the cell proliferation ELISA by culture medium proteins. J Immunoassay Immunochem (Journal of Immunoassay & Immunochemistry) 30 (3): 348-357.
• Paquin Proulx D, Aubin É, Lemieux R, Bazin R. (2009). Spontaneous internalization of IVIg in activated B cells. Immunol Lett (Immunology Letters) 124 (1): 18-26.
• Dumont N, Aubin É, Paquin Proulx D, Lemieux R, Bazin R. (2009). Increased secretion of hyperimmune antibodies following lipopolysaccharide stimulation of CD40-activated human B cells in vitro. Immunology (Immunology) 126 (4): 588-595.