Prof Mark Lindsay
Profile
Upon completion of the human genome project, the biggest surprise was that humans have far fewer genes than previously expected (~ 21,000). Additionally, less than 2% of the available DNA directly codes for these genes. To address this paradox, recent studies have suggested that much of the remaining 98% of DNA is turned into 'non-coding RNA' and that these regulate the expression of gene expression at the level of transcription and translation. For convenience, we commonly divide this non-coding RNA into small non-coding RNAs and long non-coding RNAs. At the present time, we have little idea about the role of the majority of this non-coding RNA.
My research group is interested in using oligonucleotide-based therapeutics (siRNA and antisense) to target the down-regulation or inhibition of protein coding mRNAs and non-coding RNAs. In the last few years, the emphasis has been upon using next generation sequencing to identify mRNAs, miRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that underlying biological responses/diseases.
Current project include:
- The role of long non-coding RNAs and the innate immune response (James Heward and Dr Benoir Roux)
- Transcriptome analysis in re-current squamous cell lung cancer (Dr Andre Koper - Manchester)
- Transcriptome analysis in muscle myositis (Dr Philip Hamann)
- Age Related Changes in miRNAs expression (Jasmine Malchrist)
- Models of rhinovirus infection in human lungs (Anna Pomerenke - Manchester)
- Identification of genetic and serum biomarkers of psoriatic arthritis (Dr Deepak Jadon)
Collaborations include:
Professor Fan Chung (Imperial College) – Transcriptome analysis in airway smooth muscle in normal, mild and severe asthma
Dr Simon Jones (University of Birmingham) - Examination of the transcriptome in the synovial fibroblasts of patients with osteoarthritis (normal weight versus obese individuals)
Publications
Tsitsiou, E., Williams, A. E., Moschos, S. A., Patel, K., Rossios, C., Jiang, X., Adams, O. D., MacEdo, P., Booton, R., Gibeon, D., Chung, K. F. and Lindsay, M. A., 2012. Transcriptome analysis shows activation of circulating CD8+ T cells in patients with severe asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 129 (1), pp. 95-103.
Brown, L., Joseph, L., Crosbie, P., Landberg, G., Barber, P., Lindsay, M. and Booton, R., 2012. RNA from FFPE tissue is suitable for exon array analysis if extracted utilizing a robust protocol which incorporates laser capture microdissection. Lung Cancer, 75 (Supplement 1), S4.
Jiang, X., Tsitsiou, E., Herrick, S. E. and Lindsay, M. A., 2010. MicroRNAs and the regulation of fibrosis. FEBS Journal, 277 (9), pp. 2015-2021.
Larner-Svensson, H. M., Williams, A. E., Tsitsiou, E., Perry, M. M., Jiang, X., Chung, K. F. and Lindsay, M., 2010. Pharmacological studies of the mechanism and function of interleukin-1beta-induced miRNA-146a expression in primary human airway smooth muscle. Respiratory Research, 11 (1), 68.
Perry, M. M., Williams, A. E., Tsitsiou, E., Larner-Svensson, H. M. and Lindsay, M. A., 2009. Divergent intracellular pathways regulate interleukin-1β-induced miR-146a and miR-146b expression and chemokine release in human alveolar epithelial cells. FEBS Letters, 583 (20), pp. 3349-3355.
Williams, A. E., Larner-Svensson, H., Perry, M. M., Campbell, G. A., Herrick, S. E., Adcock, I. M., Erjefalt, J. S., Chung, K. F. and Lindsay, M. A., 2009. MicroRNA expression profiling in mild asthmatic human airways and effect of corticosteroid therapy. PLoS ONE, 4 (6), e5889.
Tsitsiou, E. and Lindsay, M. A., 2009. microRNAs and the immune response. Current Opinion in Pharmacology, 9 (4), pp. 514-520.
Perry, M. M., Moschos, S. A., Williams, A. E., Shepherd, N. J., Larner-Svensson, H. M. and Lindsay, M. A., 2008. Rapid changes in microRNA-146a expression negatively regulate the IL-1β-induced inflammatory response in human lung alveolar epithelial cells. The Journal of Immunology, 180 (8), pp. 5689-5698.
Williams, A. E., Perry, M. M., Moschos, S. A., Larner-Svensson, H. M. and Lindsay, M. A., 2008. Role of miRNA-146a in the regulation of the innate immune response and cancer. Biochemical Society Transactions, 36 (6), pp. 1211-1215.
Moschos, S. A., Spinks, K., Williams, A. E. and Lindsay, M. A., 2008. Targeting the lung using siRNA and antisense based oligonucleotides. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 14 (34), pp. 3620-3627.
Lindsay, M. A., 2008. microRNAs and the immune response. Trends in Immunology, 29 (7), pp. 343-351.
