Fields of Interest: TYPE 1 DIABETES AND AUTOIMMUNE ENDOCRINE DISEASES

Vincent Geenen was born in 1958 and graduated MD from Liege University in 1982.
While specializing in Endocrinology, he entered a research career at the National Fund of Scientific Research (NFSR) of Belgium. He is now Research Director of Belgian NFSR, Director of the Liege Center of Immunology, Professor in Embryology and Developmental biology at Liege University Life Sciences Department, and Clinical Head in Endocrinology at Liege University Hospital.


Research interests:
- Thymus physiology and role of the thymus in the establishment of self-tolerance towards neuroendocrine principles.
- Role of a thymus dysfunction in the development of autoimmune diseases, in particular type 1 diabetes.
- Thymus-based tolerogenic approaches for treatment of autoimmune diseases and tissue graft rejection.

Geenen V, Legros JJ, Franchimont P, Baudrihaye M, Defresne MP, Boniver J
The neuroendocrine thymus: coexistence of oxytocin and neurophysin in the human thymus.
Science 1986 Apr 25;232(4749):508-11.
Abstract

Geenen V, Robert F, Legros JJ, Defresne MP, Boniver J, Martial J, Lefebvre PJ, Franchimont P
Neuroendocrine-immunology: from systemic interactions to the immune tolerance of self neuroendocrine functions.
Acta Clin Belg 1991;46(3):135-41.


Geenen V, Robert F, Martens H, Benhida A, De Giovanni G, Defresne MP, Boniver J, Legros JJ, Martial J, Franchimont P
Biosynthesis and paracrine/cryptocrine actions of ’self’ neurohypophysial-related peptides in the thymus.
Mol Cell Endocrinol 1991 Apr;76(1-3):C27-31.


Robert FR, Martens H, Cormann N, Benhida A, Schoenen J, Geenen V
The recognition of hypothalamo-neurohypophysial functions by developing T cells.
Dev Immunol 1992;2(2):131-40.
Abstract

Geenen V, Robert F, Martens H, De Groote D, Franchimont P
The thymic education of developing T cells in self neuroendocrine principles.
J Endocrinol Invest 1992 Sep;15(8):621-9.


Geenen V, Achour I, Robert F, Vandersmissen E, Sodoyez JC, Defresne MP, Boniver J, Lefebvre PJ, Franchimont P
Evidence that insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is the dominant thymic peptide of the insulin superfamily.
Thymus 1993 Mar;21(2):115-27.
Abstract

Geenen V, Cormann-Goffin N, Martens H, Vandersmissen E, Robert F, Benhida A, Legros JJ, Martial J, Franchimont P
Thymic neurohypophysial-related peptides and T cell selection.
Regul Pept 1993 Apr 29;45(1-2):273-8.


Geenen V, Kroemer G
Multiple ways to cellular immune tolerance.
Immunol Today 1993 Dec;14(12):573-5.
Abstract

Geenen V, Goxe B, Martens H, Vandersmissen E, Vanneste Y, Achour I, Kecha O, Lefebvre PJ
Cryptocrine signaling in the thymus network and T cell education to neuroendocrine self-antigens.
J Mol Med 1995 Sep;73(9):449-55.
Abstract

Paschke R, Geenen V
Messenger RNA expression for a TSH receptor variant in the thymus of a two-year-old child.
J Mol Med 1995 Nov;73(11):577-80.
Abstract

Martens H, Goxe B, Geenen V
The thymic repertoire of neuroendocrine self-antigens: physiological implications in T-cell life and death.
Immunol Today 1996 Jul;17(7):312-7.


Vanneste Y, Thome AN, Vandersmissen E, Charlet C, Franchimont D, Martens H, Lhiaubet AM, Schimpff RM, Rostene W, Geenen V
Identification of neurotensin-related peptides in human thymic epithelial cell membranes and relationship with major histocompatibility complex class I molecules.
J Neuroimmunol 1997 Jun;76(1-2):161-6.
Abstract

Martens H, Kecha O, Charlet-Renard C, Defresne MP, Geenen V
Neurohypophysial peptides stimulate the phosphorylation of pre-T cell focal adhesion kinases.
Neuroendocrinology 1998 Apr;67(4):282-9.
Abstract

Geenen V, Lefebvre PJ
The intrathymic expression of insulin-related genes: implications for pathophysiology and prevention of Type 1 diabetes.
Diabetes Metab Rev 1998 Mar;14(1):95-103.
Abstract

Kecha O, Martens H, Franchimont N, Achour I, Hazee-Hagelstein MT, Charlet-Renard C, Geenen V, Winkler R
Characterization of the insulin-like growth factor axis in the human thymus.
J Neuroendocrinol 1999 Jun;11(6):435-40.
Abstract

Franchimont D, Martens H, Hagelstein MT, Louis E, Dewe W, Chrousos GP, Belaiche J, Geenen V
Tumor necrosis factor alpha decreases, and interleukin-10 increases, the sensitivity of human monocytes to dexamethasone: potential regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1999 Aug;84(8):2834-9.
Abstract

Kecha O, Brilot F, Martens H, Franchimont N, Renard C, Greimers R, Defresne MP, Winkler R, Geenen V
Involvement of insulin-like growth factors in early T cell development: a study using fetal thymic organ cultures.
Endocrinology 2000 Mar;141(3):1209-17.
Abstract

Kecha-Kamoun O, Achour I, Martens H, Collette J, Lefebvre PJ, Greiner DL, Geenen V
Thymic expression of insulin-related genes in an animal model of autoimmune type 1 diabetes.
Diabetes Metab Res Rev 2001 Mar-Apr;17(2):146-52.
Abstract

Brilot F, Chehadeh W, Charlet-Renard C, Martens H, Geenen V, Hober D
Persistent infection of human thymic epithelial cells by coxsackievirus B4.
J Virol 2002 May;76(10):5260-5.
Abstract

Geenen V, Poulin JF, Dion ML, Martens H, Castermans E, I Hansenne, Moutschen M, Sekaly RP, Cheynier R
Quantification of T cell receptor rearrangement excision circles to estimate thymic function: an important new tool for endocrine-immune physiology.
J Endocrinol 2003 Mar;176(3):305-11.
Abstract