Education & Training
- BSc (Hons), Univ of Aberdeen, UK
- MSc (Immunology), Univ of Birmingham, UK
- PhD (Immunology), Univ of Aberdeen, UK
- DSc, Univ of Aberdeen, UK
- DSc (Med), Univ of Birmingham, UK
Representative Publications
Thomson AW et al, Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020
Macedo C et al, Am J Transplant 2021
Nakano R et al, Am J Transplant 2021
Nakao T et al, Hepatology 2019
Ono Y et al, Hepatology 2018
Thomson & Tevar, Lancet 2020
Ezzelarab MB et al, Am J Transplant 2017
Thomson AW et al, Frontiers in Cell & Developmental Biology 2021
Research Interests
The roles of dendritic cells and T cells in immune regulation and the promotion of transplant tolerance
Our work centers on further elucidating mechanisms underlying the ability of dendritic cells (DCs) and T lymphocytes to regulate alloimmune responses. Currently, we are studying the functions of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex in DCs and how inhibition of mTORC1 and/or mTORC2 impacts on the ability of these important antigen-presenting cells to induce and regulate T cell responses in vitro and in vivo. Studies also focus on molecular regulation of the function of liver DCs in vitro and in vivo and on their role in the promotion of liver transplant tolerance, using both experimental models and clinical material. We are also testing the therapeutic potential of tolerogenic DCs and Treg in preclinical models of renal and heart transplantation.
1.Clinical testing of regulatory dendritic cell therapy and associated mechanistic studies in living donor liver and kidney transplantation (collaborators: Drs Humar, Tevar, Lakkis, Hariharan, Metes). Dr Lillian Tran (general surgery resident PGY 5) is currently making important contributions to this work.
2.Role of liver dendritic cells in regulation of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury and promotion of liver transplant tolerance (collaborator: Dr Geller).
3.Assessment of regulatory immune cell therapy in a clinically-relevant nonhuman primate renal transplant model (co-directed with Dr Ezzelarab; collaborators: Drs Humar, Wijkstrom, Lakkis, Demetris, Morelli, Turnquist).
Additional informative review publications:
Dendritic cells and macrophages in the kidney: a spectrum of good and evil.
Rogers NM, Ferenbach DA, Isenberg JS, Thomson AW, Hughes J. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2014 Nov;10(11):625- 43. doi: 10.1038/nrneph.2014.170. Epub 2014 Sep 30.