Newcastle University

Roles and Responsibilities

Research group leader
Postgraduate research supervisor

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Applied Biochemistry Brunel University 1981
PhD in Autoimmune Disease Studies University of Newcastle 1987
Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 1994

Memberships

British Society for Immunology
Biochemical Society
International Association for Dental Research
Association for Basic Science Teachers in Dentistry

Research Interests

I am interested in the regulation of cytokine secretion by myeloid immune cells and the role of cytokines in human periodontal disease.

Cells found in the oral epithelium e.g. myeloid immune cells and keratinocytes act as sentinel cells to initiate immune responses to microbial pathogens in chronic inflammatory disorders such as periodontal disease. Cytokines secreted by these cells have a critical role in signaling and regulating innate and adaptive immune responses and also underpin the pathological sequelae of infection such as chronic inflammation. Furthermore, cross-susceptibility between periodontitis and systemic disease is explained at least in part by dysregulation of cytokine networks in common conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic disorders.

The elucidation of cytokine-mediated immune responses to periodontal pathogens is therefore central to our understanding of the cellular events which lead to compromised periodontal health in a wide-range of patient groups, not just those with primary oral disease. This knowledge will enhance patient management through identification of novel diagnostic targets and rational therapeutic interventions.

Current Work

Our research group is investigating the role of cytokines in periodontal disease in research at laboratory and clinical interface.

In vitro studies are aimed at elucidating regulatory mechanisms, secretion profiles and immunological function associated with cytokines stimulated by periodontal bacteria. In particular, we are interested in novel members of the IL-1 family of cytokines (IL-1F6, -F8, F9, IL-18 & IL-33) which are structurally related to IL-β but are functionally diverse. We also aim to get a holistic picture of cytokine responses to periodontal bacteria by using array technology and relating this to differential activation of TLR signalling pathways.

Alteration of the pathways that lead to cytokine gene transcription and post-translational modification are pathways that could underpin to natural and therapeutic immunomodulation. Thus, we are investigating the effects of neuropeptides and adipokines on cytokine responses in myeloid cells to delineate immunological relationships between inflammation and metabolic disease.

Our clinical research relates directly to our laboratory research: thus we are investigating cytokine and adipokine levels in patients with periodontal disease and diabetes. We are developing technical approaches to perform multiplex analysis of cytokines in various biological fluids which reflect the activity of localised (periodontal) and systemic immune responses. We are integrating immunological information with other laboratory and clinical data and assessing it’s clinical utility in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of periodontal disease in diabetic patients.

Our group is also a founder-member of the UK and Ireland Periodontal Disease Consortium which is an international group of periodontal researchers formed recently to collaborate in the investigation of the genetic basis of periodontal disease.

Postgraduate Supervision

Fellow of the Faculty of Medical Sciences Graduate School
Current students: 6 PhD

Funding

Wellcome Trust
Royal Society
The Nuffield Foundation
The Oral and Dental Research Trust
Newcastle University Hospitals Special Trustees
Northern Regional Health Authority
Philips Oral Healthcare

Undergraduate Teaching

Stage 1 BDS Cell Biology (Course Leader)
Stage 2 BDS Immunology and Health Care (Course Leader)
BSc undergraduate project supervisor

Postgraduate Teaching

MRes an MSc Project supervisor
MFDS and Clinical MSc courses

• Taylor JJ, Preshaw PM, Lalla E. A review of the evidence for pathogenic mechanisms that may link periodontitis and diabetes. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 2013. In Press.
• Jaedicke KM, Roythorne A, Padget K, Todryk S, Preshaw PM, Taylor JJ. Leptin up-regulates TLR2 in human monocytes. Journal of Leukocyte Biology 2013, 93(epub ahead of print).
• Jaedicke KJ, Taylor JJ, Preshaw PM. Validation and quality control for ELISAs for use with human saliva samples. Journal of Immunological Methods 2012, 377(1-2), 62-65.
• Preshaw PM, Taylor JJ. How has research into cytokine interactions and their role in driving immune responses impacted our understanding of periodontitis?. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 2011, 38(s11), 60-84.
• Nile CJ, Barksby E, Jitprasertwong P, Preshaw PM, Taylor JJ. Expression and regulation of interleukin-33 in human monocytes. Immunology 2010, 130(2), 172-180.
• Taylor JJ. Cytokine regulation of immune responses to Porphyromonas gingivalis. Periodontology 2000 2010, 54(1), 160-194.
• Barksby HE, Nile CJ, Jaedicke KM, Taylor JJ, Preshaw PM. Differential expression of immunoregulatory genes in monocytes in response to Porphyromonas gingivalis and Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. Clinical and Experimental Immunology 2009, 156(3), 479-487.
• Cullinan MP, Westerman B, Hamlet SM, Palmer JE, Faddy MJ, Seymour GJ, Middleton PG, Taylor JJ. Progression of periodontal disease and interleukin-10 gene polymorphism. Journal of Periodontal Research 2008, 43(3), 328-333.
• Preshaw PM, Foster N, Taylor JJ. Cross-susceptibility between periodontal disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus: an immunobiological perspective. Periodontology 2000 2007, 45(1), 138-157.
• Donaldson P, Veeramani S, Baragiotta A, Floreani A, Venturi C, Pearce S, Wilson V, Jones D, James O, Taylor J, Newton J, Bassendine M. Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte-Associated Antigen-4 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Haplotypes in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2007, 5(6), 755-760.
• Foster N, Lea SR, Preshaw PM, Taylor JJ. Pivotal advance: Vasoactive intestinal peptide inhibits up-regulation of human monocyte TLR2 and TLR4 by LPS and differentiation of monocytes to macrophages. Journal of Leukocyte Biology 2007, 81(4), 893-903.
• Barksby HE, Lea SR, Preshaw PM, Taylor JJ. The expanding family of interleukin-1 cytokines and their role in destructive inflammatory disorders. Clinical and Experimental Immunology 2007, 149(2), 217-225.
• Foster N, Andreadou K, Jamieson L, Preshaw PM, Taylor JJ. VIP inhibits P. gingivalis LPS-induced IL-18 and IL-18BPa in monocytes. Journal of Dental Research 2007, 86(9), 883-887.
• De Silva NT, Preshaw PM, Taylor JJ, Jayaratne SD, Heasman PA, Fernando DJS. Periodontitis: A complication of type 2 diabetes in Sri Lankans. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice 2006, 74(2), 209-210.
• Birraux J, Kirby JA, Thomason JM, Taylor JJ. The effect of cyclosporin on cell division and apoptosis in human oral keratinocytes. Journal of Periodontal Research 2006, 41(4), 297-302.
• Pleguezuelos O, Dainty SJ, Kapas S, Taylor JJ. A human oral keratinocyte cell line responds to human heat shock protein 60 through activation of ERK1/2 MAP kinases and upregulation of IL-1β. Clinical and Experimental Immunology 2005, 141(2), 307-314.
• Foster N, Cheetham J, Taylor JJ, Preshaw PM. VIP inhibits Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS-induced immune responses in human monocytes. Journal of Dental Research 2005, 84(11), 999-1004.
• Ellis JS, Morgan CL, Kirby JA, Taylor JJ, Thomason JM. Plasma TGF-β1 as a risk factor for gingival overgrowth. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 2004, 31(10), 863-868.
• Ellis JS, Seymour RA, Taylor JJ, Thomason JM. Prevalence of gingival overgrowth in transplant patients immunosuppressed with tacrolimus. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 2004, 31(2), 126-131.
• P. M. Preshaw, D. R. Geatch, B. Lauffart, M. K. Jeffcoat, J. J. Taylor and P. A. Heasman. Longitudinal changes in TCRB variable gene expression and markers of gingival inflammation in experimental gingivitis. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 1998, 25, 774-780.
• D. R. Geatch, D. A. Ross, P. A. Heasman and J. J. Taylor. Expression of T-cell receptor V beta 2, 6 and 8 gene families in chronic adult periodontal disease. European Journal of Oral Sciences 1997, 105, 397-404.
• Taylor JJ, Preshaw PM, Donaldson PT. Cytokine gene polymorphism and immunoregulation in periodontal disease. Periodontology 2000 2004, 35(1), 158-182.
• Seymour GJ, Taylor JJ. Shouts and whispers: an introduction to immunoregulation in periodontal disease. Periodontology 2000 2004, 35(1), 9-13.
• Harris JI, Russell RRB, Curtis MA, Aduse-Opoku J, Taylor JJ. Molecular mediators of Porphyromonas gingivalis-induced T-cell apoptosis. Oral Microbiology and Immunology 2002, 17(4), 224-230.
• Parkhill JM, Hennig BJW, Chapple ILC, Heasman PA, Taylor JJ. Association of interleukin-1 gene polymorphisms with early-onset periodontitis. Journal of Clinical Periodontology 2000, 27(9), 682-689.
• Hennig BJW, Parkhill JM, Chapple ILC, Heasman PA, Taylor JJ. Dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in the interleukin-10 gene promoter (IL-10.G) and genetic susceptibility to early-onset periodontal disease. Genes and Immunity 2000, 1(6), 402-404.
• Gemmell E, Prajaneh S, Grieco DA, Taylor JJ, Seymour GJ. Apoptosis in Porphyromonas gingivalis-specific T-cell lines. Oral Microbiology and Immunology 1999, 14(6), 331-338.
• Hennig BJW, Parkhill JM, Chapple LLC, Heasman PA, Taylor JJ. Association of a vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism with localized early-onset periodontal diseases. Journal of Periodontology 1999, 70(9), 1032-1038.
• Geatch DR, Harris JI, Heasman PA, Taylor JJ. In vitro studies of lymphocyte apoptosis induced by the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. Journal of Periodontal Research 1999, 34(2), 70-78.