Dear friends and colleagues,

it is my pleasure to invite you to a special seminar given by

                      Prof. Sophie Janssens, PhD.

VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Belgium

Title: The unfolded protein sensor IRE1 as a regulator of homeostatic dendritic cell maturation

Monday, April 28, 2025 at 10 am, in Hasek’s lecture hall, Institute of Molecular Genetics (Videnska 1083)

Then, after the seminar you are invited to join us for an informal post-seminar hangout with the speaker, 🍕 A PIZZA TALK 🍕
🎤 Open Q&A on science, careers, life in academia, women in science & more.
👩‍🔬 For students & early-career scientists.
🍕 Yes, there will be pizza.

Prof. Sofie Janssens’s research team focuses on the role of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in several immune cell types. Their recent work has shown that the UPR is an important component in the functioning of the immune system. In CD8α conventional dendritic cells (DCs) the UPR sensor IRE-1α and its downstream transcription factor XBP-1s is constitutively active and deficiency of XBP-1s leads to defects in cross-presentation of dead cell-derived antigens.

Examples of recent publications:

Striking a balance: new perspectives on homeostatic dendritic cell maturation.

Bosteels Victor, Janssens Sophie

NATURE REVIEWS. IMMUNOLOGY, 125-140, 25, 2025

DOI: 10.1038/s41577-024-01079-5

Paneth cell TNF signaling induces gut bacterial translocation and sepsis.

Wallaeys Charlotte, Garcia Gonzalez Natalia, Timmermans Steven, Vandewalle Jolien, Vanderhaeghen Tineke, De Beul Somara, Dufoor Hester, Eggermont Melanie, Moens Elise, Bosteels Victor Show more

CELL HOST & MICROBE, 1-19, 32, 2024

DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2024.08.007

Activation of goblet-cell stress sensor IRE1ß is controlled by the mucin chaperone AGR2.

Cloots Eva, Guilbert Phaedra, Provost Mathias, Neidhardt Lisa, Van De Velde Evelien, Fayazpour Farzaneh, De Sutter Delphine, Savvides Savvas, Eyckerman Sven, Janssens Sophie

THE EMBO JOURNAL, 695-718, 43, 2024

DOI: 10.1038/s44318-023-00015-y

The IRE1ß-mediated unfolded protein response is repressed by the chaperone AGR2 in mucin producing cells.

Neidhardt Lisa, Cloots Eva, Friemel Natalie, Weiss Caroline A, Harding Heather, Mclaughlin Stephen, Janssens Sophie, Ron David

THE EMBO JOURNAL, 719-753, 43, 2024

DOI: 10.1038/s44318-023-00014-z

Canonical IRE1 function needed to sustain vigorous natural killer cell proliferation during viral infection.

Vetters Jessica, Van Helden Mary, De Nolf Clint, Rennen Sofie, Cloots Eva, Van De Velde Evelien, Fayazpour Farzaneh, Van Moorleghem Justine, Vanheerswynghels Manon, Vergote Karl Show more

ISCIENCE, 108570, 26, 2023

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108570

LXR signaling controls homeostatic dendritic cell maturation.

Bosteels Victor, Marechal Sandra, De Nolf Clint, Rennen Sofie, Maelfait Jonathan, Tavernier Simon, Vetters Jessica, Van De Velde Evelien, Fayazpour Farzaneh, Deswarte Kim Show more

SCIENCE IMMUNOLOGY, eadd3955, 8, 2023

DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.add3955

— Dominik Filipp, PhD Laboratory of Immunobiology Institute of Molecular Genetics AS CR Videnska 1083 CZ-142 20 Prague 4 Czech Republic