Imperial College London

DrMichaelEdwards

Faculty of MedicineNational Heart & Lung Institute

Senior Lecturer
 
 
 
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Contact

 

+44 (0)20 7594 5291michael.edwards

 
 
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Location

 

346Norfolk PlaceSt Mary's Campus

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Summary

 

Publications

Publication Type
Year
to

157 results found

Regis E, Fontanella S, Curtin JA, Pinot de Moira A, Edwards MR, Murray CS, Simpson A, Johnston SL, Custovic Aet al., 2024, Association between polymorphisms on chromosome 17q12-q21 and rhinovirus-induced interferon responses., J Allergy Clin Immunol

BACKGROUND: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes on chromosome 17q12-q21 are associated with childhood-onset asthma and rhinovirus-induced wheezing. There is little mechanistic data linking chromosome 17q12-q21 to wheezing illness. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether 17q12-q21 risk alleles may be associated with impaired interferon (IFN) responses to rhinovirus. METHODS: In a population-based birth cohort of European ancestry, we stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with rhinovirus-A1 (RV-A1) and rhinovirus-A16 (RV-A16) and measured IFN and IFN-induced chemokine CXCL10/IP10 responses in supernatants. We investigated associations between virus-induced cytokines and six SNPs in 17q12-q21. Bayesian profile regression was applied to identify clusters of individuals with different immune response profiles and genetic variants. RESULTS: Five SNPs (in high linkage disequilibrium, r2≥0.8) were significantly associated with RV-A1-induced IFN-β (rs9303277: P=0.010; rs11557467: P=0.012; rs2290400: P=0.006; rs7216389: P=0.008; rs8079416: P=0.005). A reduction in RV-A1-induced IFN-β was observed among individuals carrying asthma risk alleles. There were no significant associations for RV-A1-induced IFN-α or CXCL10, or for any RV-A16-induced IFN/CXCL10. Bayesian profile regression analysis identified three clusters which differed in IFN-β induction to RV-A1 (low, medium and high). The typical genetic profile of the cluster associated with low RV-A1-induced IFN-β responses was characterised by a very high probability of being homozygous for the asthma risk allele for all SNPs. Children with persistent wheeze were almost 3-times more likely to be in clusters with reduced/average RV-A1-induced IFN- β responses than in the high immune response cluster. CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphisms on chromosome 17q12-q21 are associated with rhinovirus-induced IFN-β, suggesting a novel mechanism (impaired IFN-β induction) linking 17q1

Journal article

Almond M, Jackson M, Jha A, Katosulis O, Pitts O, Tunstall T, Regis E, Dunning J, Byrne A, Mallia P, Kon OM, Saunders K, Karen S, Snelgrove R, Openshaw P, Edwards M, Barclay W, Heaney L, Johnston S, Singanayagam Aet al., 2023, Obesity dysregulates the pulmonary antiviral immune response, Nature Communications, Vol: 14, ISSN: 2041-1723

Obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for severe influenza infections but the mechanisms underlying susceptibility are poorly understood. Here, we identify that obese individuals have deficient pulmonary antiviral immune responses in bronchoalveolar lavage cells but not in bronchial epithelial cells or peripheral blood dendritic cells. We show that the obese human airway metabolome is perturbed with associated increases in the airway concentrations of the adipokine leptin which correlated negatively with the magnitude of ex vivo antiviral responses. Exogenous pulmonary leptin administration in mice directly impaired antiviral type I interferon responses in vivo and ex vivo in cultured airway macrophages. Obese individuals hospitalised with influenza showed dysregulated upper airway immune responses. These studies provide insight into mechanisms driving propensity to severe influenza infections in obesity and raise the potential for development of leptin manipulation or interferon administration as novel strategies for conferring protection from severe infections in obese higher risk individuals.

Journal article

Radzikowska U, Eljaszewicz A, Tan G, Stocker N, Heider A, Westermann P, Steiner S, Dreher A, Wawrzyniak P, Rückert B, Rodriguez-Coira J, Zhakparov D, Huang M, Jakiela B, Sanak M, Moniuszko M, O'Mahony L, Jutel M, Kebadze T, Jackson DJ, Edwards MR, Thiel V, Johnston SL, Akdis CA, Sokolowska Met al., 2023, Author Correction: Rhinovirus-induced epithelial RIG-I inflammasome suppresses antiviral immunity and promotes inflammation in asthma and COVID-19., Nat Commun, Vol: 14

Journal article

Pyle CJ, Patel ND, Wang Z, Tregoning JS, Hamblin P, Butt R, Edwards MR, Shaw S, Johnston SLet al., 2023, A Rhinovirus-A16 VP0 Vaccine Induces Homotypic Humoral and Cellular Immunity, and Following Heterotypic Rhinovirus-A01 Infection, Accelerates Virus Clearance and Induces Cross-strain IFN-γ T Cell and Neutralising Antibody Responses, International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society (ATS), Publisher: AMER THORACIC SOC, ISSN: 1073-449X

Conference paper

Radzikowska U, Eljaszewicz A, Tan G, Stocker N, Heider A, Westermann P, Steiner S, Dreher A, Wawrzyniak P, Ruckert B, Rodriguez-Coira J, Zhakparov D, Huang M, Jakiela B, Sanak M, Moniuszko M, O'Mahony L, Jutel M, Kebadze T, Jackson JD, Edwards RM, Thiel V, Johnston LS, Akdis AC, Sokolowska Met al., 2023, Rhinovirus-induced epithelial RIG-I inflammasome suppresses antiviral immunity and promotes inflammation in asthma and COVID-19, NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, Vol: 14

Journal article

Farne H, Glanville N, Johnson N, Kebadze T, Aniscenko J, Regis E, Zhu J, Trujillo-Torralbo M-B, Kon OM, Mallia P, Prevost A, Edwards M, Johnston S, Singanayagam A, Jackson Det al., 2022, Effect of CRTH2 antagonism on the response to experimental rhinovirus infection in asthma: a pilot randomized controlled trial, Thorax, Vol: 77, Pages: 950-959, ISSN: 0040-6376

Background and aimsThe CRTH2 antagonist timapiprant improved lung function and asthma control in a phase 2 study, with evidence suggesting reduced exacerbations. We aimed to assess whether timapiprant attenuated or prevented asthma exacerbations induced by experimental rhinovirus (RV) infection. We furthermore hypothesized that timapiprant would dampen RV-induced type 2 inflammation and consequently improve antiviral immune responses.MethodsAtopic patients with partially controlled asthma on maintenance inhaled corticosteroids were randomized to timapiprant (n=22) or placebo (n=22) and challenged with RV-A16 three weeks later. The primary endpoint was the cumulative lower respiratory symptom score over the 14 days post-infection. Upper respiratory symptoms, spirometry, airway hyperresponsiveness, exhaled nitric oxide, RV-A16 virus load and soluble mediators in upper and lower airways samples, and CRTH2 staining in bronchial biopsies were additionally assessed before and during RV-A16 infection.ResultsSix subjects discontinued the study and eight were not infected; outcomes were assessed in 16 timapiprant- and 14 placebo-treated, successfully infected subjects. There were no differences between treatment groups in clinical exacerbation severity including cumulative lower respiratory symptom score day 0-14 (difference 3.0 (95% CI -29.0 to 17.0), P=0.78), virus load, antiviral immune responses, or RV-A16-induced airway inflammation other than in the bronchial biopsies, where CRTH2 staining was increased during RV-A16 infection in the placebo- but not the timapiprant-treated group. Timapiprant had a favourable safety profile, with no deaths, serious adverse events, or drug-related withdrawals.ConclusionTimapiprant treatment had little impact on the clinicopathological changes induced by RV-A16 infection in partially controlled asthma.

Journal article

Farne H, Lin L, Jackson D, Rattray M, Simpson A, Custovic A, Joshi S, Wilson P, Williamson R, Edwards M, Singanayagam A, Johnston Set al., 2022, In vivo bronchial epithelial interferon responses are augmented in asthma on day 4 following experimental rhinovirus infection, Thorax, Vol: 77, Pages: 929-932, ISSN: 0040-6376

Despite good evidence of impaired innate antiviral responses in asthma, trials of inhaled interferon-β given during exacerbations showed only modest benefits in moderate/severe asthma. Using human experimental rhinovirus infection, we observe robust in vivo induction of bronchial epithelial interferon response genes four days after virus inoculation in 25 subjects with asthma but not 11 control subjects. This signature correlated with virus loads and lower respiratory symptoms. Our data indicate that the in vivo innate antiviral response is dysregulated in asthma and open up the potential that prophylactic rather than therapeutic interferon therapy may have greater clinical benefit.

Journal article

Lin L, Curtin JA, Regis E, Hirsman A, Howard R, Tutino M, Edwards MR, Prosperi M, Simpson A, Rattray M, Custovic A, Johnston SLet al., 2022, A systems immunology approach to investigate cytokine responses to viruses and bacteria and their association with disease, Scientific Reports, Vol: 12, Pages: 1-14, ISSN: 2045-2322

Patterns of human immune responses to viruses and bacteria and how this impacts risk of infections or onset/exacerbation of chronic respiratory diseases are poorly understood. In a population-based birth cohort, we measured peripheral blood mononuclear cell responses (28 cytokines) to respiratory viruses and bacteria, Toll-like receptor ligands and phytohemagglutinin, in 307 children. Cytokine responses were highly variable with > 1000-fold differences between children. Machine learning revealed clear distinction between virus-associated and bacteria-associated stimuli. Cytokines clustered into three functional groups (anti-viral, pro-inflammatory and T-cell derived). To investigate mechanisms potentially explaining such variable responses, we investigated cytokine Quantitative Trait Loci (cQTLs) of IL-6 responses to bacteria and identified nine (eight novel) loci. Our integrative approach describing stimuli, cytokines and children as variables revealed robust immunologically and microbiologically plausible clustering, providing a framework for a greater understanding of host-responses to infection, including novel genetic associations with respiratory disease.

Journal article

Kolev E, Mircheva L, Edwards MR, Johnston SL, Kalinov K, Stange R, Gancitano G, Vanden Berghe W, Kreft Set al., 2022, <i>Echinacea Purpurea</i> For the Long-Term Prevention of Viral Respiratory Tract Infections During Covid-19 Pandemic: A Randomized, Open, Controlled, Exploratory Clinical Study, FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY, Vol: 13

Journal article

Cameron A, Dhariwal J, Upton N, Ranz Jimenez I, Paulsen M, Wong E, Trujillo-Torralbo M-B, Del Rosario A, Jackson DJ, Edwards MR, Johnston SL, Walton RP, MRC-GSK Strategic Alliance Consortiumet al., 2022, Type I conventional dendritic cells relate to disease severity in virus-induced asthma exacerbations., Clin Exp Allergy, Vol: 52, Pages: 550-560

RATIONALE: Rhinoviruses are the major precipitant of asthma exacerbations and individuals with asthma experience more severe/prolonged rhinovirus infections. Concurrent viral infection and allergen exposure synergistically increase exacerbation risk. Although dendritic cells orchestrate immune responses to both virus and allergen, little is known about their role in viral asthma exacerbations. OBJECTIVES: To characterize dendritic cell populations present in the lower airways, and to assess whether their numbers are altered in asthma compared to healthy subjects prior to infection and during rhinovirus-16 infection. METHODS: Moderately-severe atopic asthmatic patients and healthy controls were experimentally infected with rhinovirus-16. Bronchoalveolar lavage was collected at baseline, day 3 and day 8 post infection and dendritic cells isolated using fluorescence activated cell sorting. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Numbers of type I conventional dendritic cells, which cross prime CD8+ T helper cells and produce innate interferons, were significantly reduced in the lower airways of asthma patients compared to healthy controls at baseline. This reduction was associated serum IgE at baseline and with reduced numbers of CD8+ T helper cells and with increased viral replication, airway eosinophils and reduced lung function during infection. IgE receptor expression on lower airway plasmacytoid dendritic cells was significantly increased in asthma, consistent with a reduced capacity to produce innate interferons. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced numbers of anti-viral type I conventional dendritic cells in asthma are associated with adverse outcomes during rhinovirus infection. This, with increased FcεR1α expression on lower airway plasmacytoid DCs could mediate the more permissive respiratory viral infection observed in asthma patients.

Journal article

Regis E, Fontanella S, Lin L, Howard R, Haider S, Curtin J, Edwards M, Rattray M, Simpson A, Custovic A, Johnston Set al., 2021, Sex differences in innate anti-viral immune responses to respiratory viruses and in their clinical outcomes in a birth cohort study, Scientific Reports, Vol: 11, Pages: 1-15, ISSN: 2045-2322

The mechanisms explaining excess morbidity and mortality in respiratory infections among males are poorly understood. Innate immune responses are critical in protection against respiratory virus infections. We hypothesised that innate immune responses to respiratory viruses may be deficient in males. We stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 345 participants at age 16 years in a population-based birth cohort with three live respiratory viruses (rhinoviruses A16 and A1, and respiratory syncytial virus) and two viral mimics (R848 and CpG-A, to mimic responses to SARS-CoV-2) and investigated sex differences in interferon (IFN) responses. IFN-α responses to all viruses and stimuli were 1.34–2.06-fold lower in males than females (P = 0.018 −  < 0.001). IFN-β, IFN-γ and IFN-induced chemokines were also deficient in males across all stimuli/viruses. Healthcare records revealed 12.1% of males and 6.6% of females were hospitalized with respiratory infections in infancy (P = 0.017). In conclusion, impaired innate anti-viral immunity in males likely results in high male morbidity and mortality from respiratory virus infections.

Journal article

Dhariwal J, Cameron A, Wong E, Trujillo-Torralbo B, Del Rosario A, Bakhsoliani E, Paulsen M, Jackson D, Hansel TT, Edwards M, Cousins D, Walton RP, Johnston SLet al., 2021, Pulmonary innate lymphoid cell responses during rhinovirus-induced asthma exacerbations, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Vol: 204, Pages: 1259-1273, ISSN: 0091-6749

Rationale Type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are significant sources of type 2 cytokines, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma and asthma exacerbations. The role of ILC2s in virus-induced asthma exacerbations is not well-characterized. Objectives To characterize pulmonary ILC responses following experimental rhinovirus challenge in patients with moderate asthma and healthy subjects. Methods Patients with moderate asthma and healthy subjects were inoculated with rhinovirus-16, and underwent bronchoscopy at baseline, day 3 and day 8 post-inoculation. Pulmonary ILC1s and ILC2s were quantified in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) using flow cytometry. The ratio of BAL ILC2:ILC1 was assessed to determine their relative contributions to the clinical and immune response to rhinovirus challenge. Measurements and Main Results At baseline, ILC2s were significantly higher in patients with asthma than healthy subjects. At day 8, ILC2s significantly increased from baseline in both groups, which was significantly higher in asthma than in healthy subjects (all comparisons P<0.05). In healthy subjects, ILC1s increased from baseline at day 3 (P=0.001), while in patients with asthma, ILC1s increased from baseline at day 8 (P=0.042). Patients with asthma had significantly higher ILC2:ILC1 ratios at baseline (P=0.024) and day 8 (P=0.005). Increased ILC2:ILC1 ratio in asthma correlated with clinical exacerbation severity and type 2 cytokines in nasal mucosal lining fluid. Conclusions An ILC2-predominant inflammatory profile in asthma was associated with increased severity and duration of rhinovirus infection compared with healthy subjects, supporting the potential role of ILC2s in the pathogenesis of virus-induced asthma exacerbations. Clinical trial registration available at www.clinicaltrials.gov, ID: NCT01773590

Journal article

Kamal F, Kumar S, Edwards MR, Veselkov K, Belluomo I, Kebadze T, Romano A, Trujillo-Torralbo M-B, Shahridan Faiez T, Walton R, Ritchie AI, Wiseman DJ, Laponogov I, Donaldson G, Wedzicha JA, Johnston SL, Singanayagam A, Hanna GBet al., 2021, Virus-induced volatile organic compounds are detectable in exhaled breath during pulmonary infection., American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol: 204, Pages: 1075-1085, ISSN: 1073-449X

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition punctuated by acute exacerbations commonly triggered by viral and/or bacterial infection. Early identification of exacerbation trigger is important to guide appropriate therapy but currently available tests are slow and imprecise. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be detected in exhaled breath and have the potential to be rapid tissue-specific biomarkers of infection aetiology. METHODS: We used serial sampling within in vitro and in vivo studies to elucidate the dynamic changes that occur in VOC production during acute respiratory viral infection. Highly sensitive gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques were used to measure VOC production from infected airway epithelial cell cultures and in exhaled breath samples of healthy subjects experimentally challenged with rhinovirus A16 and COPD subjects with naturally-occurring exacerbations. RESULTS: We identified a novel VOC signature comprising of decane and other related long chain alkane compounds that is induced during rhinovirus infection of cultured airway epithelial cells and is also increased in the exhaled breath of healthy subjects experimentally challenged with rhinovirus and of COPD patients during naturally-occurring viral exacerbations. These compounds correlated with magnitude of anti-viral immune responses, virus burden and exacerbation severity but were not induced by bacterial infection, suggesting they represent a specific virus-inducible signature. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the potential for measurement of exhaled breath VOCs as rapid, non-invasive biomarkers of viral infection. Further studies are needed to determine whether measurement of these signatures could be used to guide more targeted therapy with antibiotic/antiviral agents for COPD exacerbations.

Journal article

Collison AM, Sokulsky LA, Kepreotes E, Pereira de Siqueira A, Morten M, Edwards MR, Walton RP, Bartlett NW, Yang M, Nguyen TH, Johnston SL, Foster PS, Mattes Jet al., 2021, miR-122 promotes virus-induced lung disease by targeting SOCS1, JCI Insight, Vol: 6, ISSN: 2379-3708

Virus-induced respiratory tract infections are a major health burden in childhood, and available treatments are supportive rather than disease modifying. Rhinoviruses (RVs), the cause of approximately 80% of common colds, are detected in nearly half of all infants with bronchiolitis and the majority of children with an asthma exacerbation. Bronchiolitis in early life is a strong risk factor for the development of asthma. Here, we found that RV infection induced the expression of miRNA 122 (miR-122) in mouse lungs and in human airway epithelial cells. In vivo inhibition specifically in the lung reduced neutrophilic inflammation and CXCL2 expression, boosted innate IFN responses, and ameliorated airway hyperreactivity in the absence and in the presence of allergic lung inflammation. Inhibition of miR-122 in the lung increased the levels of suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1), which is an in vitro-validated target of miR-122. Importantly, gene silencing of SOCS1 in vivo completely reversed the protective effects of miR-122 inhibition on RV-induced lung disease. Higher miR-122 expression in nasopharyngeal aspirates was associated with a longer time on oxygen therapy and a higher rate of treatment failure in 87 infants hospitalized with moderately severe bronchiolitis. These results suggest that miR-122 promotes RV-induced lung disease via suppression of its target SOCS1 in vivo. Higher miR-122 expression was associated with worse clinical outcomes, highlighting the potential use of anti-miR-122 oligonucleotides, successfully trialed for treatment of hepatitis C, as potential therapeutics for RV-induced bronchiolitis and asthma exacerbations.

Journal article

McErlean P, Kelly A, Dhariwal J, Kirtland M, Watson J, Ranz I, Smith J, Saxena A, Cousins DJ, Van Oosterhout A, Solari R, Edwards MR, Johnston SL, Lavender Pet al., 2020, Profiling of H3K27Ac reveals the influence of asthma on the epigenome of the airway epithelium, Frontiers in Genetics, Vol: 11, Pages: 1-12, ISSN: 1664-8021

Background: Asthma is a chronic airway disease driven by complex genetic–environmental interactions. The role of epigenetic modifications in bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) in asthma is poorly understood.Methods: We piloted genome-wide profiling of the enhancer-associated histone modification H3K27ac in BECs from people with asthma (n = 4) and healthy controls (n = 3).Results: We identified n = 4,321 (FDR < 0.05) regions exhibiting differential H3K27ac enrichment between asthma and health, clustering at genes associated predominately with epithelial processes (EMT). We identified initial evidence of asthma-associated Super-Enhancers encompassing genes encoding transcription factors (TP63) and enzymes regulating lipid metabolism (PTGS1). We integrated published datasets to identify epithelium-specific transcription factors associated with H3K27ac in asthma (TP73) and identify initial relationships between asthma-associated changes in H3K27ac and transcriptional profiles. Finally, we investigated the potential of CRISPR-based approaches to functionally evaluate H3K27ac-asthma landscape in vitro by identifying guide-RNAs capable of targeting acetylation to asthma DERs and inducing gene expression (TLR3).Conclusion: Our small pilot study validates genome-wide approaches for deciphering epigenetic mechanisms underlying asthma pathogenesis in the airways.

Journal article

Williams TC, Jackson DJ, Maltby S, Walton RP, Ching Y-M, Glanville N, Singanayagam A, Brewins JJ, Clarke D, Hirsman AG, Loo S-L, Wei L, Beale JE, Casolari P, Caramori G, Papi A, Belvisi M, Wark PAB, Johnston SL, Edwards MR, Bartlett NWet al., 2020, Rhinovirus-induced CCL17 and CCL22 in asthma exacerbations and differential regulation by STAT6., American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, Vol: 64, Pages: 344-356, ISSN: 1044-1549

The interplay of type-2 inflammation and anti-viral immunity underpins asthma exacerbation pathogenesis. Virus infection induces type-2 inflammation-promoting chemokines CCL17 and CCL22 in asthma, however mechanisms regulating induction are poorly understood. By using a human rhinovirus (RV) challenge model in human airway epithelial cells in vitro and mice in vivo, we assessed mechanisms regulating CCL17 and CCL22 expression. Subjects with mild-to-moderate asthma and healthy volunteers were experimentally infected with RV and airway CCL17 and CCL22 protein quantified. In vitro airway epithelial cell- and mouse-RV infection models were then employed to define STAT6- and NF-κB-mediated regulation of CCL17 and CCL22 expression. Following RV infection, CCL17 and CCL22 expression was higher in asthma, which differentially correlated with clinical and immunological parameters. Air-liquid interface (ALI) differentiated primary epithelial cells from donors with asthma also expressed higher levels of RV-induced CCL22. RV infection boosted type-2 cytokine-induced STAT6 activation. In epithelial cells, type-2 cytokines and STAT6 activation had differential effects on chemokine expression: increasing CCL17 and suppressing CCL22, whereas NF-κB promoted expression of both chemokines. In mice, RV infection activated pulmonary STAT6 which was required for CCL17, but not CCL22 expression. STAT6-knockout mice infected with RV expressed increased levels of NF-kB-regulated chemokines, which was associated with rapid viral clearance. Therefore, RV-induced upregulation of CCL17 and CCL22 was mediated by NF-κB activation, whereas expression was differentially regulated by STAT6. Together, findings suggest therapeutic targeting of type-2-STAT6 activation alone will not block all inflammatory pathways during RV infection in asthma.

Journal article

Kamal F, Glanville N, Xia W, Bakhsoliani E, Aniscenko J, Bartlett NW, Edwards MR, Johnston SL, Singanayagam Aet al., 2020, Beclomethasone has lesser suppressive effects on inflammation and anti-bacterial immunity than Fluticasone or Budesonide in experimental infection models., Chest, Vol: 158, Pages: 947-951, ISSN: 0012-3692

Journal article

Kumar K, Losa F, Kebadze T, Del Giacco S, Mallia P, Singanayagam A, Edwards MR, Johnston SLet al., 2020, Differences in induction of asthma-relevant pro-inflammatory mediators by β2-agonists and muscarinic antagonists in human bronchial epithelial cells, European-Academy-of-Allergology-and-Clinical-Immunology Digital Congress (EAACI), Publisher: WILEY, Pages: 163-164, ISSN: 0105-4538

Conference paper

Farne H, Glanville N, Johnson N, Kebadze T, Aniscenko J, Bakhsoliani E, Zhu J, Trujillo-Torralbo M, Kon OM, Mallia P, Prevost AT, Edwards MR, Jackson DJ, Johnston SLet al., 2020, The CRTH2 Antagonist Timapiprant Does Not Alter the Response Rhinovirus Infection in Asthma: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial, International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society, Publisher: AMER THORACIC SOC, ISSN: 1073-449X

Conference paper

Kumar K, Kebadze T, Losa F, Mallia P, Singanayagam A, Edwards MR, Johnston SLet al., 2020, Clinically relevant beta 2-agonists Induce and augment rhinovirus-induction of asthma-relevant pro-inflammatory mediators in human bronchial epithelial cells, International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society, Publisher: American Thoracic Society, ISSN: 1073-449X

Conference paper

Kumar K, Losa F, Kebadze T, Singanayagam A, Edwards MR, Johnston SLet al., 2019, SHORT-ACTING AND LONG-ACTING β2-AGONISTS UPREGULATE ASTHMA-RELEVANT PRO-INFLAMMATORY MEDIATORS IN HUMAN AIRWAY EPITHELIAL CELLS WHILE SHORT-ACTING MUSCARINIC ANTAGONISTS DO NOT, Winter Meeting of the British-Thoracic-Society, Publisher: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP, Pages: A88-A88, ISSN: 0040-6376

Conference paper

Popescu C-M, Ursache AL, Feketea G, Bocsan C, Jimbu L, Mesaros O, Edwards M, Wang H, Berceanu I, Neaga A, Zdrenghea Met al., 2019, Are Community Acquired Respiratory Viral Infections an Underestimated Burden in Hematology Patients?, Microorganisms, Vol: 7, ISSN: 2076-2607

Despite a plethora of studies demonstrating significant morbidity and mortality due to community-acquired respiratory viral (CRV) infections in intensively treated hematology patients, and despite the availability of evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and management of respiratory viral infections in this setting, there is no uniform inclusion of respiratory viral infection management in the clinical hematology routine. Nevertheless, timely diagnosis and systematic management of CRV infections in intensively treated hematology patients has a demonstrated potential to significantly improve outcome. We have briefly summarized the recently published data on CRV infection epidemiology, as well as guidelines on the diagnosis and management of CRV infections in patients intensively treated for hematological malignancies. We have also assessed available treatment options, as well as mentioned novel agents currently in development.

Journal article

Singanayagam A, Glanville N, Cuthbertson L, Bartlett NW, Finney LJ, Turek E, Bakhsoliani E, Calderazzo MA, Trujillo-Torralbo M-B, Footitt J, James PL, Fenwick P, Kemp SV, Clarke TB, Wedzicha JA, Edwards MR, Moffatt M, Cookson WO, Mallia P, Johnston SLet al., 2019, Inhaled corticosteroid suppression of cathelicidin drives dysbiosis and bacterial infection in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Science Translational Medicine, Vol: 11, Pages: 1-13, ISSN: 1946-6234

Bacterial infection commonly complicates inflammatory airway diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The mechanisms of increased infection susceptibility and how use of the commonly prescribed therapy inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) accentuates pneumonia risk in COPD are poorly understood. Here, using analysis of samples from patients with COPD, we show that ICS use is associated with lung microbiota disruption leading to proliferation of streptococcal genera, an effect that could be recapitulated in ICS-treated mice. To study mechanisms underlying this effect, we used cellular and mouse models of streptococcal expansion with Streptococcus pneumoniae, an important pathogen in COPD, to demonstrate that ICS impairs pulmonary clearance of bacteria through suppression of the antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin. ICS impairment of pulmonary immunity was dependent on suppression of cathelicidin because ICS had no effect on bacterial loads in mice lacking cathelicidin (Camp-/-) and exogenous cathelicidin prevented ICS-mediated expansion of streptococci within the microbiota and improved bacterial clearance. Suppression of pulmonary immunity by ICS was mediated by augmentation of the protease cathepsin D. Collectively, these data suggest a central role for cathepsin D/cathelicidin in the suppression of antibacterial host defense by ICS in COPD. Therapeutic restoration of cathelicidin to boost antibacterial immunity and beneficially modulate the lung microbiota might be an effective strategy in COPD.

Journal article

Mills JT, Schwenzer A, Marsh EK, Edwards MR, Sabroe I, Midwood KS, Parker LCet al., 2019, Airway Epithelial Cells Generate Pro-inflammatory Tenascin-C and Small Extracellular Vesicles in Response to TLR3 Stimuli and Rhinovirus Infection, FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY, Vol: 10, ISSN: 1664-3224

Journal article

Finney LJ, Belchamber KBR, Fenwick PS, Kemp SV, Edwards MR, Mallia P, Donaldson G, Johnston SL, Donnelly LE, Wedzicha JAet al., 2019, Human rhinovirus impairs the innate immune response to bacteria in alveolar macrophages in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol: 199, Pages: 1496-1507, ISSN: 1073-449X

Rationale Human rhinovirus (HRV) is a common cause of COPD exacerbations. Secondary bacterial infection is associated with more severe symptoms and delayed recovery. Alveolar macrophages clear bacteria from the lung and maintain lung homeostasis through cytokine secretion. These processes are defective in COPD. The effect of HRV on macrophage function is unknown. Objectives To investigate the effect of HRV on phagocytosis and cytokine response to bacteria by alveolar macrophages and monocyte derived macrophages (MDM) in COPD and healthy controls. Methods Alveolar macrophages were obtained by bronchoscopy and MDM by adherence. Macrophages were exposed to HRV 16 (multiplicity of infection 5), polyI:C 30μg/ml, interferon (IFN)-β 10μg/ml, IFN-γ 10μg/ml or medium control for 24 hours. Phagocytosis of fluorescently-labelled Haemophilus influenzae or Streptococcus pneumoniae was assessed by fluorimetry. CXCL8, TNF and IL-10 release was measured by ELISA. Main Results HRV significantly impaired phagocytosis of H. influenzae by 23% in MDM (n=37) and 18% in alveolar macrophages (n=20) in COPD. HRV also significantly reduced phagocytosis of S. pneumoniae by 33% in COPD MDM. There was no effect in healthy controls. Phagocytosis of H. influenzae was impaired by polyI:C but not IFN-β or IFN-γ. HRV significantly reduced cytokine responses to H. influenzae. The IL-10 response to H. influenzae was significantly impaired by polyI:C, IFN-β and IFN-γ. Conclusions HRV impairs phagocytosis of bacteria in COPD which may lead to an outgrowth of bacteria. HRV also impairs cytokine responses to bacteria via the TLR3/IFN pathway which may prevent resolution of inflammation leading to prolonged exacerbations in COPD.

Journal article

Petrova NV, Emelyanova AG, Gorbunov EA, Edwards MR, Walton RP, Bartlett NW, Aniscenko J, Gogsadze L, Bakhsoliani E, Khaitov MR, Johnston SL, Tarasov SA, Epstein OIet al., 2019, Retraction notice to "Efficacy of novel antibody-based drugs against rhinovirus infection: In vitro and in vivo results" [Antiviral Research 142 (2017) 185-192]., Antiviral Res, Vol: 164, Pages: 176-176

Journal article

Potaczek DP, Unger SD, Zhang N, Taka S, Michel S, Akdag N, Lan F, Helfer M, Hudemann C, Eickmann M, Skevaki C, Megremis S, Sadewasser A, Alhamwe BA, Alhamdan F, Akdis M, Edwards MR, Johnston SL, Akdis CA, Becker S, Bachert C, Papadopoulos NG, Garn H, Renz Het al., 2019, Development and characterization of DNAzyme candidates demonstrating significant efficiency against human rhinoviruses, JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY, Vol: 143, Pages: 1403-1415, ISSN: 0091-6749

Journal article

Zhu J, Message SD, Mallia P, Kebadze T, Contoli M, Ward CK, Barnathan ES, Mascelli MA, Kon OM, Papi A, Stanciu LA, Edwards MR, Jeffery PK, Johnston SLet al., 2019, Bronchial mucosal Interferon-α/β and pattern recognition receptor expression in experimental rhinovirus-induced asthma exacerbations, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Vol: 143, Pages: 114-125.e4, ISSN: 0091-6749

BACKGROUND: The innate immune system senses viral infection via pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) leading to type I interferon (IFN) production: their roles in rhinovirus (RV)-induced asthma exacerbations in vivo are uncertain. OBJECTIVES: To compare bronchial mucosal type I IFN and PRR expression at baseline and following RV infection in atopic asthmatic and control subjects. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect expression of IFN-α, IFN-β and the PRRs, toll-like receptor (TLR)-3, melanoma-differentiation-associated gene-5 (MDA-5) and retinoic-acid-inducible protein-I (RIG-I) in bronchial biopsies from 10 atopic asthmatics and 15 non-asthmatic non-atopic controls at baseline and on day four and six weeks following RV infection. RESULTS: We observed IFN-α/β deficiency in bronchial epithelium at three time points in asthma in vivo. Lower epithelial IFN-α/β expression was related to greater virus load, worse airway symptoms, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and reductions in lung function during RV infection. We found lower frequencies of bronchial subepithelial monocytes/macrophages expressing IFN-α/β in asthma during infection. IFN deficiency at baseline was not accompanied by deficient PRR expression in asthma. Both epithelial and subepithelial PRR expression was induced during RV infection. RV infection increased numbers of subepithelial IFN/PRRs-expressing inflammatory cells were related to greater virus load, AHR and reductions in lung function. CONCLUSIONS: Bronchial epithelial IFN-α/β expression and numbers of subepithelial IFN-α/β-expressing monocytes/macrophages during infection were both deficient in asthma. Lower epithelial IFN-α/β expression was associated with adverse clinical outcomes following RV infection in vivo. Increases in subepithelial cells expressing IFN/PRRs during infection were also related to greater virus load/illness severity.

Journal article

Edwards MR, Ritchie AI, Johnston SL, 2019, Exacerbations of chronic respiratory diseases, RHINOVIRUS INFECTIONS: RETHINKING THE IMPACT ON HUMAN HEALTH AND DISEASE, Editors: Bartlett, Wark, Knight, Publisher: ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, Pages: 137-168, ISBN: 978-0-12-816417-4

Book chapter

Potaczek DP, Unger SD, Zhang N, Taka S, Michel S, Akdag N, Lan F, Helfer M, Hudemann C, Eickmann M, Skevaki C, Megremis S, Sadewasser A, Alhamwe BA, Alhamdan F, Akdis M, Edwards MR, Johnston SL, Akdis CA, Becker S, Bachert C, Papadopoulos NG, Garn H, Renz Het al., 2019, Development and Characterization of Antisense Oligonucleotides Against Human Rhinovirus for Efficient Prevention of Asthma Exacerbation, International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society, Publisher: AMER THORACIC SOC, ISSN: 1073-449X

Conference paper

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