Dr Emma Chambers
Lecturer
Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Research
Ageing, Senescence, Lung, Asthma, Immunology, Immunosenescence
Interests
I have an interest in the ageing lung in health and disease (asthma). Current organ-on-a-chip models tend to use younger cells to generate the model - meaning the current models don't recapitulate older tissue. Therefore, the aim of my lab is to generate old and young lung organ-on-a-chip models to assess the impact of aged lungs on immunity to infection. We are using the QMUL+EMULATE Centre to generate senescent (Old) and non-senescent (young) alveolar lung chips to investigate the impact of senescence on immune cell phenotype and function. Using this exciting technology I will be able to dissect if the increase in senescent cells seen with age in the lung, is responsible for impaired anti-pathogen immunity observed in older adults and their increased susceptibility to viral (such as SARs-CoV-2 and Influenza) and bacterial (such a pneumonia) lung disease. Long terms aim of this work is to transfer this technique to other tissue-on-chip situations to assess the impact of senescence across the body in health and disease.Publications
2025
Immunotherapeutic targeting of aging-associated isoDGR motif in chronic lung inflammation.Kalailingam P, Ngan SC, Iyappan R, Nehchiri A, Mohd-Kahliab K-H, Lee BST, Sharma B, Machan R, Bo ST, Chambers ES, Fajardo VA, Macpherson REK, Liu J, Klentrou P, Tsiani EL, Lim KL, Su IH, Gao Y-G, Richar AM, Kalaria RN, Chen CP, Balion C, de Kleijn D, McCarthy NE and Sze SK
Aging Cell
05-01-2025
2024
Multiple outcomes of the germline p16INK4a mutation affecting senescence and immunity in human skinSubramanian P, Sayegh S, Laphanuwat P, Devine OP, Fantecelle CH, Sikora J, Chambers ES, Karagiannis SN, Gomes DCO, Kulkarni A, Rustin MHA, Lacy KE and Akbar AN
Aging Cell, Wiley
17-10-2024
Influence of individuals’ determinants including vaccine type on cellular and humoral responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccinationChambers ES, Cai W, Vivaldi G, Jolliffe DA, Perdek N, Li W, Faustini SE, Gibbons JM, Pade C, Richter AG, Coussens AK and Martineau AR
Npj Vaccines, Springer Nature vol. 9 (1)
22-05-2024
Vitamin D3 inhibits p38 MAPK and senescence‐associated inflammatory mediator secretion by senescent fibroblasts that impacts immune responses during ageingSayegh S, Fantecelle CH, Laphanuwat P, Subramanian P, Rustin MHA, Gomes DCO, Akbar AN and Chambers ES
Aging Cell, Wiley vol. 23 (4)
29-01-2024
Immunogenicity of biologics used in the treatment of asthma.Neunie OAM, Rabbani W, Baker D, Chambers ES, Pfeffer PE and Kang AS
Human Antibodies, Sage Publications vol. 32 (3), 121-128.
01-01-2024
2022
Vitamin D Supplementation Does Not Influence SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Efficacy or Immunogenicity: Sub-Studies Nested within the CORONAVIT Randomised Controlled TrialJolliffe DA, Vivaldi G, Chambers ES, Cai W, Li W, Faustini SE, Gibbons JM, Pade C, Coussens AK, Richter AG, McKnight Á and Martineau AR
Nutrients, Mdpi vol. 14 (18)
16-09-2022
Correlation Between Postvaccination Anti-Spike Antibody Titers and Protection Against Breakthrough Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: A Population-Based Longitudinal StudyVivaldi G, Jolliffe DA, Faustini S, Shields AM, Holt H, Perdek N, Talaei M, Tydeman F, Chambers ES, Cai W, Li W, Gibbons JM, Pade C, McKnight Á, Shaheen SO, Richter AG and Martineau AR
The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Oxford University Press (Oup) vol. 226 (11), 1903-1908.
30-07-2022
2021
Cellular senescence as a possible link between prostate diseases of the ageing maleFiard G, Stavrinides V, Chambers ES, Heavey S, Freeman A, Ball R, Akbar AN and Emberton M
Nature Reviews Urology, Springer Nature vol. 18 (10), 597-610.
22-07-2021
Exploring the Evidence for an Immunomodulatory Role of Vitamin D in Juvenile and Adult Rheumatic DiseaseZou J, Thornton C, Chambers ES, Rosser EC and Ciurtin C
Frontiers in Immunology, Frontiers vol. 11
18-02-2021
Recruitment of inflammatory monocytes by senescent fibroblasts inhibits antigen-specific tissue immunity during human agingChambers E, Vukmanovic-Stejic M, Shih B, Subramanian P, Devine OP, Glanville J, Gilroy D, Rustin M, Freeman TC, Mabbott N and Akbar AN
Nature Aging, 101-113.
14-01-2021
2020
Vitamin D3 replacement enhances antigen-specific immunity in older adultsChambers E, Vukmanovic-Stejic M, Turner C, Shih B, Trahair H, Pollara G, Tsaliki E, Rustin M, Freeman T, Mabbott N, Noursadeghi M, Martineau A and Akbar A
Immunotherapy Advances, 1-1.
25-11-2020
Can blocking inflammation enhance immunity during aging?Chambers ES and Akbar AN
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology vol. 145 (5), 1323-1331.
01-05-2020
Sestrins induce natural killer function in 1 senescent-like CD8+ T cellsPereira B, De Maeyer R, Covre L, Nehar-Belaid D, Lanna A, Ward S, Marches R, Chambers E, Gomes D, Riddell N, Maini M, Teixeira V, Janes S, Gilroy D, Larbi A, Mabbott N, Ucar D, Kuchel G, Henson S, Strid J, Lee J, Banchereau J and Akbar A
Nature Immunology
30-03-2020
2019
Skin barrier immunity and ageingChambers ES and Vukmanovic‐Stejic M
Immunology, Wiley vol. 160 (2), 116-125.
04-12-2019
Senescent cells evade immune clearance via HLA-E-mediated NK and CD8+ T cell inhibitionPereira BI, Devine OP, Vukmanovic-Stejic M, Chambers ES, Subramanian P, Patel N, Virasami A, Sebire NJ, Kinsler V, Valdovinos A, LeSaux CJ, Passos JF, Antoniou A, Rustin MHA, Campisi J and Akbar AN
Nature Communications, Springer Nature vol. 10 (1)
03-06-2019
Circulating Senescent T Cells Are Linked to Systemic Inflammation and Lesion Size During Human Cutaneous LeishmaniasisCovre LP, Martins RF, Devine OP, Chambers ES, Vukmanovic-Stejic M, Silva JA, Dietze R, Rodrigues RR, de Matos Guedes HL, Falqueto A, Akbar AN and Gomes DCO
Frontiers in Immunology, Frontiers vol. 9
04-01-2019
2018
Impact of Zostavax Vaccination on T-Cell Accumulation and Cutaneous Gene Expression in the Skin of Older Humans After Varicella Zoster Virus Antigen-Specific Challenge.Patel NP, Vukmanovic-Stejic M, Suarez-Farinas M, Chambers ES, Sandhu D, Fuentes-Duculan J, Mabbott NA, Rustin MHA, Krueger J and Akbar AN
J Infect Dis vol. 218 (suppl_2), S88-S98.
22-09-2018
2017
Dendritic cell phenotype in severe asthma reflects clinical responsiveness to glucocorticoidsChambers ES, Nanzer AM, Pfeffer PE, Richards DF, Martineau AR, Griffiths CJ, Corrigan CJ and Hawrylowicz CM
Clinical & Experimental Allergy, Wiley vol. 48 (1), 13-22.
18-12-2017
Enhancement of cutaneous immunity during aging by blocking p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase–induced inflammationVukmanovic-Stejic M, Chambers ES, Suárez-Fariñas M, Sandhu D, Fuentes-Duculan J, Patel N, Agius E, Lacy KE, Turner CT, Larbi A, Birault V, Noursadeghi M, Mabbott NA, Rustin MHA, Krueger JG and Akbar AN
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Elsevier vol. 142 (3), 844-856.
17-11-2017
Human CD8+ EMRA T cells display a senescent-associated secretory phenotype regulated by p38 MAPK.Callender LA, carroll EC, beal R, Chambers ES, Nourshargh S, Akbar AN and Henson SM
Aging Cell, Wiley Open Access
12-10-2017
2015
1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 acts via transforming growth factor‐β to up‐regulate expression of immunosuppressive CD73 on human CD4+ Foxp3– T cellsMann EH, Chambers ES, Chen Y-H, Richards DF and Hawrylowicz CM
Immunology, Wiley vol. 146 (3), 423-431.
13-09-2015
Distinct endotypes of steroid-resistant asthma characterized by IL-17Ahigh and IFN-γhigh immunophenotypes: Potential benefits of calcitriolChambers ES, Nanzer AM, Pfeffer PE, Richards DF, Timms PM, Martineau AR, Griffiths CJ, Corrigan CJ and Hawrylowicz CM
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Elsevier vol. 136 (3), 628-637.e4.
13-03-2015
2014
Vitamin D Influences Asthmatic Pathology through Its Action on Diverse Immunological PathwaysPfeffer PE, Mann EH, Hornsby E, Chambers ES, Chen Y-H, Rice L and Hawrylowicz CM
Annals of The American Thoracic Society, American Thoracic Society vol. 11 (Supplement 5), s314-s321.
01-12-2014
1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 in combination with transforming growth factor‐β increases the frequency of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells through preferential expansion and usage of interleukin‐2Chambers ES, Suwannasaen D, Mann EH, Urry Z, Richards DF, Lertmemongkolchai G and Hawrylowicz CM
Immunology, Wiley vol. 143 (1), 52-60.
29-07-2014
Immunoregulatory mechanisms of vitamin D relevant to respiratory health and asthmaMann EH, Chambers ES, Pfeffer PE and Hawrylowicz CM
Annals of The New York Academy of Sciences, Wiley vol. 1317 (1), 57-69.
16-04-2014
The effects of calcitriol treatment in glucocorticoid-resistant asthmaNanzer AM, Chambers ES, Ryanna K, Freeman AT, Colligan G, Richards DF, Timms PM, Martineau AR, Griffiths CJ, Corrigan CJ and Hawrylowicz CM
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
01-01-2014
The effects of calcitriol treatment in glucocorticoid-resistant asthmaNanzer AM, Chambers ES, Ryanna K, Freeman AT, Colligan G, Richards DF, Timms PM, Martineau AR, Griffiths CJ, Corrigan CJ and Hawrylowicz CM
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology vol. 133 (6)
01-01-2014
2013
Defective IL-10 expression and in vitro steroid-induced IL-17A in paediatric severe therapy-resistant asthmaGupta A, Dimeloe S, Richards DF, Chambers ES, Black C, Urry Z, Ryanna K, Xystrakis E, Bush A, Saglani S and Hawrylowicz CM
Thorax, Bmj vol. 69 (6)
17-12-2013
Enhanced production of IL-17A in patients with severe asthma is inhibited by 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in a glucocorticoid-independent fashion.Nanzer AM, Chambers ES, Ryanna K, Richards DF, Black C, Timms PM, Martineau AR, Griffiths CJ, Corrigan CJ and Hawrylowicz CM
J Allergy Clin Immunol vol. 132 (2), 297-304.e3.
01-08-2013
2012
The role of 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 and cytokines in the promotion of distinct Foxp3+and IL‐10+ CD4+ T cellsUrry Z, Chambers ES, Xystrakis E, Dimeloe S, Richards DF, Gabryšová L, Christensen J, Gupta A, Saglani S, Bush A, O'Garra A, Brown Z and Hawrylowicz CM
European Journal of Immunology, Wiley vol. 42 (10), 2697-2708.
20-08-2012
Serum 25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels correlate with CD4+Foxp3+ T-cell numbers in moderate/severe asthmaChambers ES, Nanzer AM, Richards DF, Ryanna K, Freeman AT, Timms PM, Martineau AR, Griffiths CJ, Corrigan CJ and Hawrylowicz CM
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology vol. 130 (2), 542-544.
01-01-2012
2010
The Impact of Vitamin D on Regulatory T CellsChambers ES and Hawrylowicz CM
Current Allergy and Asthma Reports, Springer Nature vol. 11 (1), 29-36.
23-11-2010
Grants
Investigating the impact of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) on Immunosenescence During the MenopauseEmma Chambers
£74,878 Barts and the London Charity
01-09-2024 - 31-08-2025
Dissecting The Role Of Inflammatory pathways In Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) PathologyEmma Chambers, Emanuel Rognoni and Matthew Caley
£139,912 DEBRA UK
01-04-2024 - 31-03-2028
The effect of age on monocyte phenotype and functionEmma Chambers
£47,230 DMT Dunhill Medical Trust, The
01-04-2022 - 01-09-2023