As neonatologists, we often deal with the effects of premature births. Even though the survival rate of premature infants has increased over the last twenty years, morbidity, especially neurological morbidity, remains high. Our laboratory studies the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders (including leukomalacia and periventricular hemorrhage) in addition to retinopathy of prematurity, the most important cause of childhood blindness. Considering the importance of microcirculation both in the genesis of these pathologies (secondary to its degeneration) and in tissue revascularization, emphasis is placed on the underlying mechanisms of these activities. Our efforts mainly focus on free radicals, pro-inflammatory factors and new angiogenesis mediators.
Our team has discovered important roles for these factors.
It is therefore clear that the concepts we have developed not only have consequences on newborn health but also on other pathologies such as adult cerebral ischemia, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and age-related macular degeneration. Moreover, our research has lead to practical clinical applications. We are currently working on additional innovative therapeutic modalities.
For World Prematurity Day, November 17, 2015
101.10 inhibits inflammation-induced uterine contractions
A receptor located in the nucleus of retinal neurons promotes vascular growth