Translational Research - Université de Genève

Host Response
Jérôme Pugin
Department of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology and Intensive Care
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine
Jérôme Pugin obtained his MD degree in 1984 in Geneva, and later specialised in both Internal
and Intensive Care medicine. He shares his time between clinical work as a Deputy Head
Physician of the Intensive Care Division at Geneva University Hospitals, and research in the
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of the
University of Geneva. He spent three years between 1991 and 1994 in the Department of
Immunology of the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, USA. Jérôme Pugin was appointed
Associate Professor in 2007 and full Professor in 2012 at the Faculty of Medicine of Geneva.
Since 2011 he has been Vice-Dean of the Faculty.
Recognition of bacteria by innate immunity receptors
Our research interests have focused over the last 20 years on the molecular and cellular
pathogenesis of sepsis. In particular, we have worked on soluble proteins involved in the innate
recognition of bacteria such as soluble CD14 and MD-2, as well as in the Toll-like receptors
activated by Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Another area of study is the molecular
pathogenesis and cell signaling of ventilator-induced lung injury, and lung inflammation in
the context of acute respiratory distress syndrome. We have also identified and tested
biomarkers in the field of clinical sepsis.
62 Université de Genève • Faculté de médecine
Dunn-Siegrist I, Tissières P, Drifte G, Bauer J, Moutel S, Pugin J (2012) Toll-like Receptor Activation
of Human Cells by Synthetic Triacylated Lipid A-like Molecules. J Biol Chem. 287: 16121-31
Tissières P, Ochoda A, Dunn-Siegrist I, Drifte G, Morales M, Pfister R, Berner M, Pugin J (2012)
Innate immune deficiency of extremely premature neonates can be reversed by interferon-γ.
PLoS One 7: e32863
Tissières P, Araud T, Ochoda A, Drifte G, Dunn-Siegrist I, Pugin J (2009) The expression of the
acute phase MD-2 gene depends on the cooperation between PU.1 and C/EBP ß. J. Biol.
Chem. 284: 26261-72
Tissières P, Dunn-Siegrist I, Comte R, Nobre V, Pugin J (2008) Soluble MD-2 is an acute phase
protein and an opsonin for Gram-negative bacteria. Blood 111: 2122-31
Pugin J, Dunn-Siegrist I, Dufour J, Tissières P, Charles PE, Comte R (2008) Cyclic stretch of human
lung cells induces an acidification and promotes bacterial growth. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol.
Biol. 38:362-70
Elson G, Dunn-Siegrist I, Daubeuf B, Pugin J (2007) Contribution of Toll-like receptors to the
innate immune response to Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Blood 109:1574-8
Pugin J, Stern-Voeffray S, Daubeuf B, Matthay MA, Elson G, Dunn-Siegrist I (2004) Soluble MD-
2 activity in plasma from patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Blood 104: 4071-4079
Contact: Jerome.Pugin@unige.ch
LPS induced TLR4 clustering
Host Response
Université de Genève • Faculté de médecine
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