![Professor Heather Wilson Professor Heather Wilson](/img/200x200/staffpages/uploads/mmd212/profile_pic_heather2.jpg)
BSc (Biochemistry) PhD
Chair in Immunology
- About
-
- Email Address
- h.m.wilson@abdn.ac.uk
- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 437350
- Office Address
Immunity and Infection Programme Lead
University of Aberdeen, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS), Office 3.24, Lab 4.49/4.51/1.16
College of Life Sciences and Medicine
Foresterhill Health Campus
AberdeenAB25 2ZD
- School/Department
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Biography
I graduated with a first class honours degree in Biochemistry and was awarded a Carnegie prize scholarship to fund my PhD investigating lipid mediators driving coronary heart disease (awarded 1990). My early postdoctoral years focussed on factors mediating the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and progression of glomerulonephritis to end stage renal disease. I was awarded MRC, Kidney Research UK and British Heart Foundation funding to continue my research on the effects of macrophage inflammatory mediators on controlling glomerular extracellular matrix turnover and how increased deposition and/or decreased protease degradation resulted in renal scarring. A further MRC funded project directed my research interests to the earlier inflammatory stage of nephritis and the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling inflammation, focussing on the role of macrophages in experimental models. I was appointed to Lecturer in 2008, promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2013 then awarded a personal chair in 2019. My current research is primarily directed towards understanding the signalling pathways that control macrophage activation and function, especially in inflammmatory diseases including nephritis, atherosclerosis and wound healing. I also have interests in macrophage signalling pathways relating to infection control focussing on Candida albicans.
I teach on and coordinate BSc, MSc and MBChB courses with a primary focus on inflammation and human disease. I am Chair of Foresterhill Biological Safety Committee and programme Co-lead for the Immunity and Infection research programme. I am a reviewer for NHS Grampian Biorepositiry tissue bank.
I am an active member of the Renal Association, British Society of Immunology and Biochemical Society. I have external examining roles at University of Bristol and have examined many external MSc and PhD thesis. I mentor for the Carnegie Trust Future Leaders programme and an ambassador for promoting career development of ECRs.
Qualifications
- BSc Biochemistry1987 - University of Aberdeen
- PhD Biochemistry1990 - University of Aberdeen
Memberships and Affiliations
- Internal Memberships
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Foresterhill Biological Safety committee chair
Academic line manager
Programme co-lead Immunity and infection
- External Memberships
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External
Committees: Elected member of Renal Association, renal scientists working party (elected 2005 for 5 years) and education and training committee (2010)
Mentor for Carnegie scholars
Editorial Boards: Frontiers in Immunology, World Journal of Immunology
Ad hoc reviewer -Kidney International, Experimental Cell Research, Nephron-Experimental Nephrology, Journal of Leukocyte Biology, British Journal of Pharmacology, Journal of Immunology, European Journal of Neurology, Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Journal of Vascular Research, Journal of American Society of Nephrology.
Grant reviewer: Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council (MRC), Heart Research UK, Medical Research Scotland
Committe member for Grampian NHS Biorepository ethics Committee
- Research
-
Research Overview
My research interests are directed towards a better understanding of the role of macrophages and other immune cells in controlling the pathogenesis of inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases. I have focussed primarily on the factors that polarise macrophage functions to pro- or anti-inflammatory subsets and the ways in which differentially activated macrophage subsets regulate tissue injury or tissue repair, especially in rodent models of nephritis and human atherosclerosis, wound healing and cancer. The aim is to be able to control immune and inflammatory mediated diseases by manipulating macrophage function. For this I am dissecting the role of the intracellular signalling pathways that direct macrophage activation, and how these pathways can be switched to exploit macrophage reparative attributes and restore regulation to the inflammatory response. I have developed a multitude of techniques to efficiently isolate tissue infiltrating macrophages and analyse their intracellular signalling pathways and using these have, for example, demonstrated that inhibiting the SOCS3 and PTP1B induces macrophages to become profoundly anti-inflammatory when exposed an inflamed environment. I also have projects studing how changing macrophage function in infection e.g. by clinical drugs can alter the outcome and the implications of this.
Research Areas
Accepting PhDs
I am currently accepting PhDs in Biological and Environmental Sciences, Biomedical Sciences.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.
Research Specialisms
- Medical Sciences
- Pathology
- Biological Sciences
- Cell Biology
- Immunology
Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Current Research
My research is currently focussed on manipulating macrophage function using physiological inhibitors. I am also exploring potential biomarkers of macrophage activity in macrophage mediated diseases (glomerulonephritis, atherosclerosis, wound healing and cancer) to establish the phenotype, function and balance of macrophage functional subsets throughout the pathogenesis of these diseases to provide pointers as to the most effective therapeutic strategies to manipulate macrophage activity and restore tissue homeostasis.
When tissues are wounded, direct current extracellular electric fields are established. Moreover synthetically applied electric fields can speed up healing and reduce inflammation in chronic wounds. The group is also determining how small electric fields, influence the polarisation and antibacterial/wound reparative properties of macrophages and activation and proliferation of T cell subsets. Another physical stimulus we are showing to influence macrophage function is shockwave therapy that can alter the functions of macrophages to accelerate the healing properties in chronic wounds.
A third area of research is determining how manipulating immune cell function, for example using clinical drugs, can change the susceptibility to infection and the pathways essential for this. For example, we are currently researching and have shown that inhibition of PTP1B is important in regulating infection susceptibility to Candida albicans.
PhD projects on offer
Masters by research projects on offer
Funding and Grants
Vickers M, Wilson HM, Campbell J. Reprogramming the innate immune system to treat malignancy: targeting ovarian cancer. Medical Research Scotland 2020-2024.
McEwan IJ, Wilson HM, Dundas S. Impact of the immune landscape on androgen ablation therapy and progression to therapy-resistant disease. Eastbio studentship 2020-2024.
Vickers M, Wilson HM Vickers M, Wilson HM. High mannose exposure on blood cells and development of new therapeutic modalities for sickle cell disease and cancer. (Clinical Fellowship for Dr Charlotte Robertson). Friends of Anchor. 2020-2022. £160,811
Thompson D, Delibegovic M, Wilson HM. The FPR2 ligand W-peptide: A new therapeutic approach to treat atherosclerosis. British Heart Foundation 2020-2023 £252,229 PG/19/30/34327
Galley HM, Wilson HM. Interactions between melatonin and endogenous opioid peptide release from macrophages. British Journal of Anaesthesia/Royal College of anaesthesia.2019-2022 £89,426
Delibegovic M, Wilson HM, Baker D. Potential new strategies for the treatment of kidney disease due to diabetes. Medical Research Scotland, 2019-2023 £115133
Gibson I, Wilson HM Can regenerative medicine scaffolds efficiently modulate the immune response to improve the outcome of bone tissue repair? Eastbio studentship 2019-2023
Mclean M, Wilson HM. Interleukin-27 as a new therapy for acute severe inflammatory bowel disease. Cunningham Trust 2019-2022, £85429
Wilson HM, Vickers M. Cao, H. Development of potential new diagnostics and therapies for sickle cell anaemia. Friends of Anchor 2018-2020, £15000
Wilson HM, Forrester JV, Kuffova L. Using potential antigen-specific regulatory T cells as a novel therapeutic strategy to ameliorate autoimmune uveitis. Fight for Sight 2018-2020 £199508
Wilson HM Camera upgrade for the UltraVIEW Spinning Disk confocal live cell microscope. Friends of Anchor. £20,410
Wilson HM, Cooper B Clinical benefits and mechanism of action of shock wave therapy for healing chronic venous ulcers. NHS Grampian Endowment Funds. £11,302
Murray F, Dawson D & Wilson HM Stress-induced heart disease G17.10 Tenovus 2017-2018 £11,750
Delibegovic M, Wilson HM, Rajnicek A Inhibition of macrophage protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) as a novel therapy for improved wound healing in diabetes. Diabetes UK 2017-2019 £ 165735
Mclean M, Wilson HM & Murray G. The role of HMBG1 in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. Friends of Anchor. 2017-2018 £9757
Wilson HM, Delibegovic M, Brown GD, Arthur S. The role of innate cell PTP1B in susceptibility to infection. EastBio DTP studentship. 2017-2021
Nixon G, Wilson HM. Inhibiting angiogenesis in human aortic valves: a new therapeutic target. British Heart Foundation studentship 2017-2020. £107465
Wilson HM, Delibegovic M, Brown GD. Unravelling the role of innate cell PTP1B in controlling susceptibility to fungal infection. Wellcome Trust Institutional Strategic Support Fund Seedcorn Award. £18,184
Nixon G, Wilson HM. Inhibiting angiogenesis in human aortic valves: a new therapeutic target. British Heart Foundation studentship 2017-2020. £107465
Mclean M, Wilson HM, Murray G. Interleukin 27 (IL-27) as a new therapy for inflammatory bowel disease-defining IL-27 evoked responses in the gastrointestinal epithelial barrier. NHS Grampian Endowment Funds. 2017-2018, £11850
Wilson HM, Delibegovic. New treatments for diabetic nephropathy. NHS Grampian Endowment Funds. 2017-2018, £11911
Hislop J, Wilson HM, Thompson D. Formyl Peptide Receptors: A potential target in the design of anti-inflammatory therapeutics for the treatment of Sepsis. NHS Grampian Endowment Funds. 2017-2018, £9139
McLean M & Wilson HM Interleukin-27 responses in inflammatory bowel disease - a potential new therapeutic? CIRCA PhD studentship; 2016-2020; £116,786
Dawson D, Wilson HM, Newby D, Ahearn T, Dweck M, Semple S, Kerr K, Brown PAJ “A study into the inflammatory mechanisms and protracted recovery of tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy” BHF Project Grant; 2016-2019; £348,855
Delibegovic M, Wilson HM, Mody N, Dawson D, Whitfield P, Brown PAJ. Effects of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibition on inflammation and atherosclerosis development. British Heart Foundation 2015-2017 £236,108
Wilson HM Smith & Nephew award 2015-2016 £4000
Crane I & Wilson HM Monocyte subset markers as biomarkers in asthma . NHS Grampian Endowment Funds. 2015-2016 £5525
Wilson HM & Rajnicek A Electrical stimulation to enhance macrophage function and accelerate wound healing NHS Grampian Endowment Funds. 2015-2016 £11,985
Thompson D, Brittenden J, Delibegovic M, Wilson HM PTP1B Inhibition: A potential new target in the treatment of atherosclerosis. NHS Grampian Endowment Funds. 2015-2016 £11,163
Wilson HM & Morley T. Novel small molecule modulators of the antioxidant response pathway: potential for therapy in cancer/inflammatory disease. Medical Research Scotland. 2012-16. £110,803
Wilson HM & Erwig LP The role of macrophage SOCS3 in the pathogenesis of renal disease. Kidney Research UK. 2013-15. £119,513
Wilson HM, Barker RN, McCaig. Electric Fields – A novel regulators of macrophage activity. Institute of Medical Sciences Studentship. 2011-15. £72760
Wilson HM Targeting macrophage SOCS3 for therapy in human renal disease NHS Grampian Endowments Fund. 2012-2013. £7365
Houslay M MacNee W, Wilson HM, Arthur S, Novel drugs for treatment of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). SULSA 2013-14 £59,073
Nixon G & Wilson HM. The role of sphingolipids in monocyte binding: a potential therapeutic target in restenosis. British Heart Foundation 2013-2016 £104,438
Delibegovic M, Wilson HM, Brown PAJ. Effects of Dietary Methionine Restriction on Kidney Pathology and Insulin NHS Grampian Endowment Funds. 2014-2015 £12000
Dawson D, Wilson HM, Kerr K, Liversidge J. Targeting the inflammation mechanism in stress-induced acute cardiomyopathy. NHS Grampian Endowment Funds. 2014-2015
2006-2010. Medical Research Council - Deviating macrophage activation in glomerulonephritis by SOCS proteins.
- Teaching
-
Courses
Teaching Responsibilities
IM3501 Fundamentals of Immunology -course co-ordinator
IM3502 Applied Immunology - Human Health -course co-ordinator
Honours Immunology IM4007- Immunity and infection - course coordinator
Honours Immunology IM4005-Current Topics in Immunology-course coordinator
IM4006 current research in immunology - course coordinator
IM4307 option 2 immunology
Teach on
BM5502 MSc Immunology in Health and Disease
MB5028 MSc Cardiovascular Science and Diabetes
MB5518 MSc Research tutorials
MB5903 MSc Research projects
BA3004 Biochemical Pharmacology and Toxicology
Year1 MBChB (medicine) Science for Medicine
Year 1 MBChB (medicine) Student selected component (Immunology & Infection) co-ordinator
BM4009 Staying alive, adaptations in physiological systems
BT5007 Industrial projects
BI25M7 Energy for Life
External roles
External Examiner for the BSc Clinical Science unit/programme(s) in the Bristol Medical School
- Publications
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Glomerular Epithelial and Mesangial Cell Culture and Characterization
Human cell Culture Protocols. Mitry, R. R., Hughes, R. D. (eds.). 3 edition. Humana Press, pp. 187-201, 15 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-367-7_13
Glomerular Epithelial and Mesangial Cell Culture and Characterization
Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 806, pp. 187-201Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-367-7_13
- [ONLINE] http://europepmc.org/abstract/med/22057453
Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)1 is a key determinant of differential macrophage activation and function
Journal of Leukocyte Biology, vol. 90, no. 5, pp. 845-854Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21628332
- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1189/jlb.1110644
Systematic review of the literature on the ophthalmological side effects of interferons
Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia, vol. 74, no. 4, pp. 306-310Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0004-27492011000400017
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Macrophages heterogeneity in atherosclerosis: implications for therapy
Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, vol. 14, no. 8, pp. 2055-2065Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010.01121.x
Unique expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 is essential for classical macrophage activation in rodents in vitro and in vivo
The Journal of Immunology, vol. 180, no. 9, pp. 6270-6278Contributions to Journals: ArticlesCytokines
Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. John Wiley & SonsChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470015902.a0000929.pub2
Pathogenesis of Renal Disease: Cellular Mechanisms
The Kidney in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases. Mason, J. C., Pusey, C. D. (eds.). Elsevier Science, pp. 81-92, 12 pagesChapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Chapters- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1571-5078(07)07004-3
Glomerular epithelial and mesangial cell culture and characterization
Methods in Molecular Medicine, vol. 107, no. 1, pp. 269-282Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-861-7:269
Inhibition of macrophage nuclear factor-kappaB leads to a dominant anti-inflammatory phenotype that attenuates glomerular inflammation in vivo.
American Journal of Pathology, vol. 167, no. 1, pp. 27-37Contributions to Journals: ArticlesMacrophages and the kidney
Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 285-290Contributions to Journals: Editorials- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00041552-200405000-00004
Selective expression of TGF-beta2 and TGF-beta3 isoforms in early mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis.
Nephron Experimental Nephrology, vol. 96, no. 4, pp. 111-118Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000077377
Bone-marrow-derived macrophages genetically modified to produce IL-10 reduce injury in experimental glomerulonephritis.
Molecular Therapy, vol. 6, pp. 710-717Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/mthe.2002.0802
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and haemostasis in obesity
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, vol. 60, no. 3, pp. 341-347Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/PNS200199
Prolonged elevation of glomerular total cellularity and cell density, but only late matrix accumulation, precede accelerated proteinuria in Thy1 glomerulonephritis
The Journal of pathology, vol. 190Contributions to Journals: ArticlesTransforming growth factor-beta isoforms and glomerular injury in nephrotoxic nephritis
Kidney International, vol. 57, pp. 2434-2444Contributions to Journals: ArticlesAlterations in plasma lipids, lipoproteins and high density lipoprotein subfractions in peripheral arterial disease
Atherosclerosis, vol. 131, no. 2, pp. 161-166Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0021-9150(97)06097-8
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Opposing effects of interleukin-1 and transforming growth factor-beta on the regulation of tissue-type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 expression by human mesangial cells
Experimental Nephrology, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 233-238Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Effect of angiotensin II on plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 production by cultured human mesangial cells
Nephron, vol. 77, no. 2, pp. 197-204Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000190273
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Tin and low-density lipoprotein fatty acids in plasma from patients with acute myocardial infarction
Trace Elements and Electrocytes, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 66-68Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) increases the in vitro invasion, motility and adhesion interactions of the primary renal carcinoma cell line, A704
European Journal of Cancer, vol. 32, no. 11, pp. 1977-1982Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0959-8049(96)00207-9
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
A model of progressive mesangio-proliferative glomerulonephritis.
Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, vol. 7, no. 9Contributions to Journals: ArticlesInterleukin-1β up-regulates the plasminogen activator/plasmin system in human mesangial cells
Kidney International, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 1097-1104Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ki.1996.159
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) regulates the matrix-associated plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) in glomerular mesangial and epithelial cells
Nephron Experimental Nephrology, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 141-2Contributions to Journals: ArticlesUrokinase-plasminogen activator is synthesized in vitro by human glomerular epithelial cells but not by mesangial cells
Kidney International, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 43-47Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ki.1994.5
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Alterations in the concentration of an apolipoprotein E-containing subfraction of plasma high density lipoprotein in coronary heart disease
CLINICA CHIMICA ACTA, vol. 220, no. 2, pp. 175-187Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-8981(93)90046-7
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Effect of transforming growth factor-beta 1 on plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in renal glomerular cells.
Experimental Nephrology, vol. 1, no. 6, pp. 343-350Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Induction of nitric oxide synthase in human mesangial cells
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, vol. 193, no. 3, pp. 1269-74Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1006/bbrc.1993.1762
The isolation and characterization of high-density-lipoprotein subfractions containing apolipoprotein E from human plasma
Biochemical Journal, vol. 284, no. 2, pp. 477-481Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/bj2840477
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
High-density lipoprotein subfractions and cardiovascular disease
Biochemical Society Transactions, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 1074-1076Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0181074
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
The distribution of high-density lipoprotein subfractions in coronary survivors
Biochemical Society Transactions, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 1175-1176Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0181175
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Plasma high-density lipoprotein subfractions in survivors of myocardial infarction
Biochemical Society Transactions, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 330Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0180330
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
A novel procedure for the separation of high-density lipoprotein subspecies by affinity chromatography
Biochemical Society Transactions, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 152-153Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0170152
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus