Cutaneous Immunology
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
We are working towards treatment and prevention of immune-mediated skin disease. The skin is often the first point of contact with pathogens and allergens, but relatively little is understood about how the cutaneous immune system clears these challenges. Such knowledge is vitally important to understanding the mechanisms of skin disease and related diseases, and for developing more effective ways of cutaneous drug and vaccine delivery. It is increasingly clear that skin barrier dysfunction is an important first step in the development of atopic eczema, one of the commonest skin diseases in the UK, and often associated with asthma and rhinitis. The barrier dysfunction promotes entry of allergens and microbes which eventually lead to skin inflammation. The latter is treated with topical immune suppressants, but these are not curative and also carry risks of side effects. We wish to understand the steps linking barrier dysfunction and skin inflammation, as these will provide opportunities for new treatments. In particular, we will explore ways to repair barrier function and to understand the roles of novel immune cells in contributing to the inflammation. These findings will have implications for atopic eczema, but also for other forms of inflammatory skin disease and indeed for the improvement of vaccine delivery in to the skin.
Technical Summary
Atopic disease affects 20-30% of the UK population and includes atopic eczema, asthma and rhinitis. Current treatments are suppressive, but not curative, and carry risks of side-effects. Since the identification of an association between atopic eczema and null mutations in the gene encoding filaggrin, it has become increasingly clear that events in the epithelium represent critical susceptibility factors in disease pathogenesis. We are working towards an understanding of the pathogenesis of atopic disease, in particular to explain how the epidermal dysfunction associated with filaggrin insufficiency contributes to atopic disease and whether this can be modified therapeutically. We capitalize on the ready access to lesional tissue in humans, and to function within networks and collaborations to maximize opportunities for success. The aim of the research is to understand the pathogenesis of cutaneous atopic disease in order to inform new approaches to disease prevention and treatment. The studies will also contribute to our understanding of the interaction between the epithelium and the innate and adaptive immune response. Emphasis will be focused on: 1) how filaggrin insufficiency promotes atopic inflammation and whether this can be therapeutically modified; 2) characterising innate IL-13 producing cells in human lesional atopic skin and after antigen challenge; 3) understanding mechanisms underlying antigen-specific immunotherapy to modulate immune responses in humans and to translate these findings to patient benefit; 4) investigating mechanisms underlying the cellular immune response to viral antigens in human skin. The experimental design is based on isolation of cells from blood and skin of patients and controls. The cells from skin include keratinocytes, dendritic cell family members (eg Langerhans cells), T cells, innate lymphoid cells. The patients will include those with cutaneous atopic disease and other inflammatory skin diseases, as well as individuals before and after cutaneous antigen challenge. Studies will be undertaken ex vivo and after culture. Interactions between keratinocytes, Langerhans cells and immune effector cells will include examination by expression analyses, mediator production and functional keratinocyte outcomes such as barrier function. Molecular mechanisms underlying these findings will be investigated. As well as contributing to disease and tissue specific questions, these studies will advance the broader University Unit aims of defining the interactions between the innate and adaptive immune responses and the local micro-environment, which in turn will support the development of new approaches to vaccination and treatment.
Organisations
- University of Oxford (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Sri Jayawardanapura (Collaboration)
- NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- University of Oxford (Collaboration)
- Harvard University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- Medical Research Council (MRC) (Collaboration)
- Monash University (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Graham Ogg (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Huang S
(2023)
CD1 lipidomes reveal lipid-binding motifs and size-based antigen-display mechanisms.
in Cell
Kuruppu H
(2023)
Adipokine levels and their association with clinical disease severity in patients with dengue.
in PLoS neglected tropical diseases
Jackson C
(2023)
Effects of sleep disturbance on dyspnoea and impaired lung function following hospital admission due to COVID-19 in the UK: a prospective multicentre cohort study.
in The Lancet. Respiratory medicine
Chen YL
(2023)
Group A Streptococcus induces CD1a-autoreactive T cells and promotes psoriatic inflammation.
in Science immunology
Cross AR
(2023)
Spatial transcriptomic characterization of COVID-19 pneumonitis identifies immune circuits related to tissue injury.
in JCI insight
McAuley HJC
(2023)
Prevalence of physical frailty, including risk factors, up to 1 year after hospitalisation for COVID-19 in the UK: a multicentre, longitudinal cohort study.
in EClinicalMedicine
Malavige GN
(2023)
Differentiating dengue from other febrile illnesses: a dilemma faced by clinicians in dengue endemic countries.
in The Lancet. Global health
Brightling CE
(2023)
Long COVID research: an update from the PHOSP-COVID Scientific Summit.
in The Lancet. Respiratory medicine
Dayarathna S
(2024)
Are viral loads in the febrile phase a predictive factor of dengue disease severity?
in BMC infectious diseases
McMaster B
(2024)
Can AlphaFold's breakthrough in protein structure help decode the fundamental principles of adaptive cellular immunity?
in Nature methods
Lord JM
(2024)
Accelarated immune ageing is associated with COVID-19 disease severity.
in Immunity & ageing : I & A
Malavige GN
(2024)
Molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of dengue infections.
in Trends in molecular medicine
Jayadas TTP
(2024)
Genomic surveillance and evolutionary dynamics of influenza a virus in Sri Lanka.
in Virology journal
Malavige GN
(2024)
Immune responses and severe dengue: what have we learned?
in Current opinion in infectious diseases
Lawson CA
(2024)
Long COVID and cardiovascular disease: a prospective cohort study.
in Open heart
Taquet M
(2024)
Cognitive and psychiatric symptom trajectories 2-3 years after hospital admission for COVID-19: a longitudinal, prospective cohort study in the UK.
in The lancet. Psychiatry
Dayarathna S
(2024)
Dengue NS1 interaction with lipids alters its pathogenic effects on monocyte derived macrophages.
in Journal of biomedical science
Jayadas T
(2024)
Genomic Surveillance and Evolutionary Dynamics of Influenza A Virus in Sri Lanka.
in Research square
Jeewandara C
(2024)
The burden of dengue in children and risk factors of transmission in nine districts in Sri Lanka
in Journal of Medical Virology
Ye JH
(2024)
CD1a and skin T cells: a pathway for therapeutic intervention.
in Clinical and experimental dermatology
Hamid MHBA
(2024)
Unconventional human CD61 pairing with CD103 promotes TCR signaling and antigen-specific T cell cytotoxicity.
in Nature immunology
Elneima O
(2024)
Cohort Profile: Post-Hospitalisation COVID-19 (PHOSP-COVID) study.
in International journal of epidemiology
Zibandeh N
(2024)
Cutaneous adaptive immunity and uraemia: a narrative review.
in Frontiers in immunology
Soilleux EJ
(2024)
Demonstration of T-Cell Monotypia Using Anti-TCRbeta1/2 (TRBC1/2) Immunostaining as a Rapid and Cost-Effective Alternative to PCR-Based Clonality Studies for the Diagnosis of T-Cell Lymphoma.
in Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
Taquet M
(2024)
Post-acute COVID-19 neuropsychiatric symptoms are not associated with ongoing nervous system injury.
in Brain communications
Jeewandara C
(2024)
Is the rise in childhood obesity rates leading to an increase in hospitalizations due to dengue?
in PLoS neglected tropical diseases
Liew F
(2024)
Large-scale phenotyping of patients with long COVID post-hospitalization reveals mechanistic subtypes of disease.
in Nature immunology
Tyrer F
(2025)
Incidence of diabetes mellitus following hospitalisation for COVID-19 in the United Kingdom: A prospective observational study.
in Diabetes, obesity & metabolism
Gharibzadeh S
(2025)
Long term health outcomes in people with diabetes 12 months after hospitalisation with COVID-19 in the UK: a prospective cohort study.
in EClinicalMedicine
Gribaleva E
(2025)
The UK-Irish Atopic eczema Systemic TherApy Register (A*STAR): baseline characteristics of the cohort.
in The British journal of dermatology
| Description | Many local/regional clinical guidelines and GP training sessions |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Training and education fo GPs to improve health care delivery |
| Description | Multiple Clinical Guidelines Committee |
| Geographic Reach | Europe |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Multiple published clinical guidelines for broad impact globally |
| Description | Anaptysbio Research Grant |
| Amount | £700,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | AnaptysBio |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 02/2017 |
| End | 01/2019 |
| Description | CRN Translational dermatology |
| Amount | £150,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 03/2024 |
| Description | Celgene Fellowship |
| Amount | £500,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Bristol-Myers Squibb |
| Department | Celgene |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 01/2016 |
| End | 01/2020 |
| Description | Comprehensive Research Network |
| Amount | £1,700,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
| Department | NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2007 |
| End | 03/2017 |
| Description | EXPLORATORY/DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| Amount | $137,000 (USD) |
| Funding ID | 1R21AI125886-01 |
| Organisation | National Institutes of Health (NIH) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United States |
| Start | 08/2016 |
| End | 08/2018 |
| Description | Janssen Cartography |
| Amount | £5,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Janssen Research & Development |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | Global |
| Start | 12/2021 |
| End | 12/2024 |
| Description | MRC/UCB Antibody Discovery Initiative |
| Amount | £250,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MC_EX_MR/R022550/1 |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2019 |
| End | 12/2019 |
| Description | NIHR Senioe Investigator |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Department | NIHR Biomedical Research Centre |
| Sector | Hospitals |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre |
| Amount | £400,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2022 |
| End | 03/2027 |
| Description | Professor Graham Ogg |
| Amount | £80,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NIHR203691 |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2022 |
| End | 03/2026 |
| Description | Translational Skin Immunology |
| Amount | £25,000,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | UU_00036/2 |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 03/2028 |
| Description | UCB Research grant |
| Amount | £354,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | UCB SA |
| Department | UCB Pharma |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2016 |
| End | 08/2018 |
| Description | Wellcome Trust Collaboratiev Award |
| Amount | £3,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 04/2023 |
| Title | CD1 lipide discovery |
| Description | In team which established the technology to discover CD1 lipid antigens |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Will enable new studies to discover lipid antigens |
| Description | Andrew McKenzie LMB Cambridge |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Department | MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are working with Andrew McKenzie to identify nuocytes in human and model skin and relate to clinical disease. we provide knowhow and expertise for access to human skin cells. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Andrew McKenzie provides knowhow and expertise for access to model skin |
| Impact | new collaboration |
| Start Year | 2011 |
| Description | Biomedical Research centre Oxford |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We provided many of the samples and technology for analysis of samples using Biomedical Research Centre equipment. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to equipment and individuals |
| Impact | Many outputs as detailed in relevant sections |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | Branch Moody Harvard |
| Organisation | Harvard University |
| Department | Harvard Medical School |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We collaborate on CD1a-restricted T cell responses. We have contributed ideas, samples, experimental work and technical advances. |
| Collaborator Contribution | We collaborate on CD1a-restricted T cell responses. Branch Moody and his team have contributed ideas, samples, experimental work and technical advances. |
| Impact | Multiple publications and conference presentations |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Del Besra |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Part of Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award |
| Collaborator Contribution | lipid chemistry |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Jamie Rossjohn |
| Organisation | Monash University |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Part of our Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award |
| Collaborator Contribution | Biophysical and structural knowledge |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Muzlifah Haniffa |
| Organisation | Newcastle University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| PI Contribution | Part of Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dendritic cell biology |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Paul Klenerman VZV |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Department | MRC Molecular Haematology Unit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Analysis of varicella zoster virus specific immune respoonses after vaccination |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to samples and discussions. |
| Impact | Publications and presentations |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Description | University of Sri Jayawardanapura |
| Organisation | University of Sri Jayawardanapura |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Analyses of samples |
| Collaborator Contribution | Contribution of samples and some analyses |
| Impact | see relevant sections |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Title | ANTIBODIES |
| Description | The invention relates to an antibody or antigen binding fragment thereof which is capable of binding to CD1a, which is particularly suitable for treating or preventing one or more inflammatory skin or mucosal disorder, or disease or one or more associated systemic disease or disorder, or one or more inflammatory drug reaction which manifests systemically, or a CD1a-expressing malignancy |
| IP Reference | WO2022248839 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2022 |
| Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
| Impact | Discussions underway |
| Title | MODULATORS OF CD1 PROTEIN BINDING TO T CELL RECEPTORS |
| Description | Identification of candidate modulator molecules for CD1 |
| IP Reference | 63/411,971 |
| Protection | Patent / Patent application |
| Year Protection Granted | 2023 |
| Licensed | No |
| Impact | Commercial discussions underway |
| Title | Phase 2 study of rupatadine efficacy in dengue infection |
| Description | Phase 2 study of rupatadine efficacy in acute severe dengue infection |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Drug |
| Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2022 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Clinical Trial? | Yes |
| UKCRN/ISCTN Identifier | SLCTR/2017/024 |
| Impact | Trend towards improved outcomes. suggests combination therapy may be worth investigating |
| Title | Preliminary study on use of rupatadine |
| Description | A preliminary study of the efficacy of rupatadine for the treatment of acute dengue infection |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Drug |
| Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2018 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Impact | To investigate use of a new, inexpensive treatment option |
| Title | Proof-of-concept clinical trial of etokimab shows a key role for IL-33 in atopic dermatitis pathogenesis |
| Description | I run numerous clinical trials in Oxford to translate our research findings into clinical practice. |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Drug |
| Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2019 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Impact | Contributed towards proividing a new treatment modality |
| Title | TREAT - The Treatment of severe atopic eczema trial |
| Description | A randomized controlled clinical trial protocol assessing the effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of methotrexate vs. ciclosporin in the treatment of severe atopic eczema in children |
| Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Drug |
| Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2018 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Impact | I run numerous cllinical trials in Oxford to translate our research findings into clinical practice |
| Company Name | T-Cypher Bio |
| Description | T-Cypher Bio develops TCR (T-Cell Receptor) discovery software designed to identify TCRs for the treatment of tumours and other diseases. |
| Year Established | 2020 |
| Impact | successful fund raising, and recruitment of executive team and staff |
| Website | https://tcypherbio.com/ |
| Description | "Cut & Paste" - genome editing (Royal Institution Family Fun day) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | "Cut & Paste" - genome editing activities at the Royal Institution Family Fun day on 22nd February 2019. It comprised three activities explaining genome editing and its utilisation as a research tool |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | "Understanding allergy - Itching, sneezing, wheezing" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Two 30 minute talks to 9/10 year students explaining the immune system and allergy. The talks were part of Wadham College Aspiration day 4th March 2019 - Academic taster session. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | CRN Podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Podcast highlighting medical problems in dermatology and our strategies for developign new approaches to treatment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Newsletter 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Research activity newsletter |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Patient public talks and meeting 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentations and talks to public and patients |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Science club at Freeland Primary School |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Visit to Freeland Primary School on 14th January 2020 to carry out a 1h session comprising three activities with primary school students to explain DNA and genome editing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | T cell differentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 1h session during Biology Summer School which took place at Wadham College on 21st August 2019. The activity looked at how naïve T cells differentiate into T cell subsets in vitro. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | The Immune Cell Highway |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Immune Cell Highway was a session organised for Superdads Playgroup at Northway Church, Oxford on 8th February 2020. The activities were aimed at explaining how immune cells move around the body via two pathways - the blood & the lymphatics - and how this travelling is essential for clearing infections in the skin. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | The Immune Cell Highway (Swindon Science Festival) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Immune Cell Highway activity links the work being done in the Dong, Ogg and Jackson labs in the WIMM. They have created a stand explaining how immune cells move around the body via two pathways: the blood & the lymphatics. This activity was part of Swindon Science Festival on 21st and 22nd February 2020. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Understanding allergy - Itching, sneezing, wheezing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Two 30 minute sessions doing an "allergy testing" experiment with 9/10 year students. These sessions were part of Wadham College Aspiration Day - Academic taster session on 10th May 2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |