Dr Emma Chambers

Emma Chambers

Lecturer

Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute
Queen Mary University of London
ORCID Google Scholar LinkedIn X

Research

Ageing, Senescence, Lung, Asthma, Immunology, Immunosenescence

Infectious Disease and Inflammation Models, Skin Models

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

solid heart iconPublications of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models

2024

Subramanian 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 (2024). Multiple outcomes of the germline p16INK4a mutation affecting senescence and immunity in human skin. Wiley  Aging Cell   
Chambers ES, Cai W, Vivaldi G, Jolliffe DA, Perdek N, Li W, Faustini SE, Gibbons JM, Pade C, Richter AG, Coussens AK and Martineau AR (2024). Influence of individuals’ determinants including vaccine type on cellular and humoral responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Springer Nature  npj Vaccines  vol. 9, (1)  
Sayegh S, Fantecelle CH, Laphanuwat P, Subramanian P, Rustin MHA, Gomes DCO, Akbar AN and Chambers ES (2024). Vitamin D3 inhibits p38 MAPK and senescence‐associated inflammatory mediator secretion by senescent fibroblasts that impacts immune responses during ageing. Wiley  Aging Cell  vol. 23, (4)  
Neunie OAM, Rabbani W, Baker D, Chambers ES, Pfeffer PE and Kang AS (2024). Immunogenicity of biologics used in the treatment of asthma. SAGE Publications  Human Antibodies  vol. 32, (3) 121-128.  

2022

Jolliffe DA, Vivaldi G, Chambers ES, Cai W, Li W, Faustini SE, Gibbons JM, Pade C, Coussens AK, Richter AG, McKnight Á and Martineau AR (2022). Vitamin D Supplementation Does Not Influence SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine Efficacy or Immunogenicity: Sub-Studies Nested within the CORONAVIT Randomised Controlled Trial. MDPI  Nutrients  vol. 14, (18)  
Vivaldi 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 (2022). Correlation Between Postvaccination Anti-Spike Antibody Titers and Protection Against Breakthrough Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study. Oxford University Press (OUP)  The Journal of Infectious Diseases  vol. 226, (11) 1903-1908.  

2021

Fiard G, Stavrinides V, Chambers ES, Heavey S, Freeman A, Ball R, Akbar AN and Emberton M (2021). Cellular senescence as a possible link between prostate diseases of the ageing male. Springer Nature  Nature Reviews Urology  vol. 18, (10) 597-610.  
Zou J, Thornton C, Chambers ES, Rosser EC and Ciurtin C (2021). Exploring the Evidence for an Immunomodulatory Role of Vitamin D in Juvenile and Adult Rheumatic Disease. Frontiers  Frontiers in Immunology  vol. 11,  
Chambers E, Vukmanovic-Stejic M, Shih B, Subramanian P, Devine OP, Glanville J, Gilroy D, Rustin M, Freeman TC, Mabbott N and Akbar AN (2021). Recruitment of inflammatory monocytes by senescent fibroblasts inhibits antigen-specific tissue immunity during human aging. Nature Aging  101-113.  

2020

Chambers E (2020). The impact of ageing on monocytes and macrophages. Elsevier  Immunology Letters   
Chambers 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 (2020). Vitamin D3 replacement enhances antigen-specific immunity in older adults. Immunotherapy Advances  1-1.  
Chambers ES and Akbar AN (2020). Reply. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology  vol. 146, (4) 922-923.  
Chambers ES and Akbar AN (2020). Can blocking inflammation enhance immunity during aging? Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology  vol. 145, (5) 1323-1331.  
Pereira 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 (2020). Sestrins induce natural killer function in 1 senescent-like CD8+ T cells. Nature Immunology   

2019

Chambers ES and Vukmanovic‐Stejic M (2019). Skin barrier immunity and ageing. Wiley  Immunology  vol. 160, (2) 116-125.  
Pereira 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 (2019). Senescent cells evade immune clearance via HLA-E-mediated NK and CD8+ T cell inhibition. Springer Nature  Nature Communications  vol. 10, (1)  
Covre 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 (2019). Circulating Senescent T Cells Are Linked to Systemic Inflammation and Lesion Size During Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. Frontiers  Frontiers in Immunology  vol. 9,  

2018

Patel NP, Vukmanovic-Stejic M, Suarez-Farinas M, Chambers ES, Sandhu D, Fuentes-Duculan J, Mabbott NA, Rustin MHA, Krueger J and Akbar AN (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. J Infect Dis  vol. 218, (suppl_2) S88-S98.  

2017

Chambers ES, Nanzer AM, Pfeffer PE, Richards DF, Martineau AR, Griffiths CJ, Corrigan CJ and Hawrylowicz CM (2017). Dendritic cell phenotype in severe asthma reflects clinical responsiveness to glucocorticoids. Wiley  Clinical & Experimental Allergy  vol. 48, (1) 13-22.  
Vukmanovic-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 (2017). Enhancement of cutaneous immunity during aging by blocking p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase–induced inflammation. Elsevier  Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology  vol. 142, (3) 844-856.  
Callender LA, carroll EC, beal R, Chambers ES, Nourshargh S, Akbar AN and Henson SM (2017). Human CD8+ EMRA T cells display a senescent-associated secretory phenotype regulated by p38 MAPK. Wiley Open Access  Aging Cell   

2015

Mann EH, Chambers ES, Chen Y-H, Richards DF and Hawrylowicz CM (2015). 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 acts via transforming growth factor‐β to up‐regulate expression of immunosuppressive CD73 on human CD4+ Foxp3– T cells. Wiley  Immunology  vol. 146, (3) 423-431.  
Chambers ES, Nanzer AM, Pfeffer PE, Richards DF, Timms PM, Martineau AR, Griffiths CJ, Corrigan CJ and Hawrylowicz CM (2015). Distinct endotypes of steroid-resistant asthma characterized by IL-17Ahigh and IFN-γhigh immunophenotypes: Potential benefits of calcitriol. Elsevier  Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology  vol. 136, (3) 628-637.e4.  

2014

Pfeffer PE, Mann EH, Hornsby E, Chambers ES, Chen Y-H, Rice L and Hawrylowicz CM (2014). Vitamin D Influences Asthmatic Pathology through Its Action on Diverse Immunological Pathways. American Thoracic Society  Annals of the American Thoracic Society  vol. 11, (Supplement 5) s314-s321.  
Chambers ES, Suwannasaen D, Mann EH, Urry Z, Richards DF, Lertmemongkolchai G and Hawrylowicz CM (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‐2. Wiley  Immunology  vol. 143, (1) 52-60.  
Mann EH, Chambers ES, Pfeffer PE and Hawrylowicz CM (2014). Immunoregulatory mechanisms of vitamin D relevant to respiratory health and asthma. Wiley  Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences  vol. 1317, (1) 57-69.  
Nanzer AM, Chambers ES, Ryanna K, Freeman AT, Colligan G, Richards DF, Timms PM, Martineau AR, Griffiths CJ, Corrigan CJ and Hawrylowicz CM (2014). The effects of calcitriol treatment in glucocorticoid-resistant asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology   
Nanzer AM, Chambers ES, Ryanna K, Freeman AT, Colligan G, Richards DF, Timms PM, Martineau AR, Griffiths CJ, Corrigan CJ and Hawrylowicz CM (2014). The effects of calcitriol treatment in glucocorticoid-resistant asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology  vol. 133, (6)  

2013

Gupta A, Dimeloe S, Richards DF, Chambers ES, Black C, Urry Z, Ryanna K, Xystrakis E, Bush A, Saglani S and Hawrylowicz CM (2013). Defective IL-10 expression and in vitro steroid-induced IL-17A in paediatric severe therapy-resistant asthma. BMJ  Thorax  vol. 69, (6)  
Nanzer AM, Chambers ES, Ryanna K, Richards DF, Black C, Timms PM, Martineau AR, Griffiths CJ, Corrigan CJ and Hawrylowicz CM (2013). Enhanced production of IL-17A in patients with severe asthma is inhibited by 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in a glucocorticoid-independent fashion. J Allergy Clin Immunol  vol. 132, (2) 297-304.e3.  

2012

Urry 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 (2012). The role of 1α,25‐dihydroxyvitamin D3 and cytokines in the promotion of distinct Foxp3+and IL‐10+ CD4+ T cells. Wiley  European Journal of Immunology  vol. 42, (10) 2697-2708.  
Chambers ES, Nanzer AM, Richards DF, Ryanna K, Freeman AT, Timms PM, Martineau AR, Griffiths CJ, Corrigan CJ and Hawrylowicz CM (2012). Serum 25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels correlate with CD4+Foxp3+ T-cell numbers in moderate/severe asthma. JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY  vol. 130, (2) 542-544.  

2010

Chambers ES and Hawrylowicz CM (2010). The Impact of Vitamin D on Regulatory T Cells. Springer Nature  Current Allergy and Asthma Reports  vol. 11, (1) 29-36.  

Grants

solid heart iconGrants of specific relevance to Predictive in vitro Models
bullet iconInvestigating the impact of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) on Immunosenescence During the Menopause
Emma Chambers
£74,878 Barts and the London Charity (01-09-2024 - 31-03-2026)
bullet iconDissecting The Role Of Inflammatory pathways In Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) Pathology
Emma Chambers, Emanuel Rognoni and Matthew Caley
£139,912 DEBRA UK (01-04-2024 - 31-03-2028)


bullet iconThe effect of age on monocyte phenotype and function
Emma Chambers
£47,230 DMT Dunhill Medical Trust, The (01-04-2022 - 01-09-2023)