Andrew Foey

Dr Andrew Foey

Job title: Lecturer in Immunology, School of Biomedical and Biological Sciences (Faculty of Science and Technology)
Address: A414, Portland Square Building, Drake Circus,
Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA
Postal address: A414, Portland Square Building, Drake Circus,
Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA
Telephone: +441752584623
Facsimile: +44 (0)1752 232970
Email: andrew.foey@plymouth.ac.uk

Role
School of Biomedical & Biological Sciences Safety Officer.
Pathway lead: Infection & Immunity.

Qualifications & background

2006    PG Cert. Learning & Teaching in Higher Education    University of Plymouth
1996    PhD    University of Bath    "Modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine expression by intracellular cations."
1989    B.Sc. (Hons.) Applied Biological Sciences Bristol Polytechnic (now University of West of England)

1986 HND Applied Biology Bristol Polytechnic (now University of West of England)

Expertise

Cytokine Immunopathology in inflammatory conditions, monocyte /macrophage biology, cell-to-cell interactions, cell signalling, apoptosis and cell cytometry.

Previous appointments

MRC Career Development Fellowship in Nutritional Immunology, MRC Human Nutrition Research Unit, Cambridge, UK. May 2004 – July 2005.

Senior Research Fellow, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Imperial College, London, UK. July 1996 – December 2003.

Post Doctoral Research Scientist, Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath, UK. October 1995 – June 1996.

Research Assistant and SERC CASE PhD Studentship, Bath Institute for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath, UK. January 1992 – September 1995.

Research Scientist Industrial Placement, Boots Pharmaceuticals, Nottingham, UK. July 1994 – December 1994.

Research Assistant, MRC Tuberculosis and Related Infections Unit, RPMS Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK. September 1989 – December 1991.

Research Assistant, Nuffield Department of Surgery, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK. June 1991 – December 1991.

Research Assistant, CDE Porton Down, Salisbury, UK. July 1987 – September 1988.

Research interests

Macrophages are fundamental cells to innate immune mechanisms. They exist in two main subsets which are determined by the tissue environment; where both differentiation and activation signals play a role in determining subset effector functionality. M1-like macrophages are pro-inflammatory and display anti-tumour effects whereas the M2-like macrophage subset is anti-inflammatory, regulatory and pro-tumoural. It is unclear whether these two subsets represent distinct canonical forms of macrophage subset or whether there is a sliding scale of effector function between these two extremes. If the latter scenario exists, it is likely that the macrophages display a level of plasticity, hence macrophage function can be manipulated/controlled. The regulation of macrophage function represents a realistic cell-based therapeutic regimen and would be of benefit in the treatment of many diseases where the immunopathological mechanisms are predominated by dysfunctional macrophages.

The focus of this research has centred on the role of mucosal macrophages in driving homeostatic healthy immune function and immunopathological mechanisms upon disruption of mucosal tolerance. The disease states currently under investigation include oral pathologies (chronic periodontitis, oral squamous cell carcinoma) and gastro-intestinal tract pathologies (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis). Harnessing of both microbial (commensal and pathological) and dietary effects will allow for the regulation of macrophage function and may ameliorate the symptoms of such pro-inflammatory and suppressive disease states.

Current avenues of research endeavour include:

1) Immunomodulatory role of probiotics – centred around the modulation of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine production by specific macrophage subsets and upon contact-mediated interaction with gut epithelial cells.

2) Mechanisms of endotoxin tolerance mediated by oral pathogens and the relative subset sensitivities to tolerance-induction.

3) Application of oral pathogens and their PAMPs in immune-deviation in pro-inflammatory and suppressive immunopathologies.

4) Negative regulation and manipulation of macrophage plasticity in Crohn’s disease.

5) Immune cell cross-talk mechanisms involved in perpetuation of mucosal pathologies.

6) Role of oligosaccharides/b-glucans as modulators of macrophage-mediated immunity.

7) Dietary microparticles: immune activators or tolerance inducers?

Publications

Habil, N., Abate Woldie, W., Beal, J. and Foey, A.D. (2012): Probiotic bacterial species selectively modulate gut epithelial cell beta-defensin-2. (Manuscript in preparation).

Foey, A.D. and Crean, S.J. (2012): Macrophage subset sensitivity to endotoxin tolerisation by Porphyromonas gingivalis. (Manuscript in preparation).

Foey, A. and Picchietti, S. (2012): Immune defences of teleost fish. In. Probiotics, prebiotics and gut health in aquaculture nutrition. Eds. Merrifield, D. and Ringo, E. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. Invited review chapter. (Submitted).

Foey, A. (2012): Mucosal macrophages: phenotype and functionality in homeostasis and pathology. In. Handbook of macrophages: life cycle, functions and diseases. Eds. Takahashi, R. and Kai, H. Chapter 4, pp. 121-146. Nova Science Publishers Inc., NY, USA. ISBN 978-1-62081-162-7. Invited review chapter.

Habil, N., Beal, J. and Foey, A.D. (2011): Probiotic bacterial strains differentially modulate macrophage cytokine production in a strain-dependent and cell subset-specific manner. Beneficial Microbes 2(4):283-293.

Habil, N., Beal, J. and Foey, A.D. (2011): Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota selectively modulates macrophage subset cytokine production. Int. J. Probiotics & Prebiotics. In Press. Manuscript accepted 27/09/11.

Foey, A.D. (2011): Butyrate regulation of distinct macrophage subsets: opposing effects on M1 and M2 macrophages. Int. J. Probiotics & Prebiotics 6(3/4):147-158.

Merry, R., Belfield, L., McArdle, P., McLennan, A., Crean, S-J. and Foey, A. (2012): Oral health and pathology; a macrophage account. Br. J. Oral & Maxillofacial Surg. 50:2-7.

Buckley, J., Maunder, R.J., Foey, A., Pearce, J., Val, A.L. and Sloman, K.A. (2010): Biparental mucus feeding: a unique example of parental care in an Amazonian cichlid. J. Exp. Biol. 213:3787-3795.

Merrifield, D.L., Dimitroglou, A., Foey, A., Davies, S.J., Baker, R.T.M., Bogwald, J., Castex, M. and Ringo, E. (2010): The current status and future focus of probiotic and prebiotic applications for salmonids. Aquaculture 302(1-2): 1-18.

Brennan, F.M., Smith, N.M.G., Owen, S.H., Li, C., Amjadi, P., Green, P., Andersson, A., Palfreeman, A.C., Hillyer, P., Foey, A., Beech, J. and Feldmann, M. (2008): Resting CD4+ effector-memory T cells are precursors of bystander-activated effectors: a surrogate model of RA synovial T cell function. Arthritis Research & Therapy 10: R36.

Staples, KJ, Smallie, T, Williams, L, Foey, A, Burke, B, Foxwell, B. and Ziegler-Heitbrock, L. (2007): Interleukin-10 induces interleukin-10 in primary human monocyte-derived macrophages via the transcription factor Stat3. Journal of Immunology 178(8):4779-4785.

Zhang, Z., Panesar, M., Isomaki, P., Foey, A., Owen, S., Douglas, J., McClinton, C., Russell, A., Vyse, T., Dazzi, F., Brennan, F. and Cope, A.P. (2007): Sustained downregulation of TCRz defines a transition from antigen mode to inflammation mode during T cell differentiation. Blood 109:4328-4335.

Brennan, F.M., Foey, A.D. and Feldmann, M. (2006): The importance of T cell interactions with macrophages in rheumatoid cytokine production. Current Concepts in Autoimmunity and Chronic Inflammation, Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology CTMI 305: 177-194. Invited review chapter.

Foey, A.D., Foxwell, B.M.J. and Brennan, F.M. (2004): Conventional PKC and cAMP-dependent atypical PKCzeta differentially regulate macrophage production of TNFa and IL-10. Immunology 112:44-53.

Ozegbe, P., Foey, A.D., Ahmed, S. and Williams, R.O. (2004): Impact of cAMP on the T cell response to type II collagen. Immunology 111:35-40.

Foey, A.D., Field, S., Ahmed, S., Jain, A., Feldmann, M., Brennan, F.M. and Williams, R.O. (2003): Impact of VIP and cAMP on the regulation of TNFa and IL-10 production: implications for rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Research and Therapy 5:R317-R328.

Brennan, F.M. and Foey, A.D. (2002): Cytokine regulation in RA synovial tissue: role of T cell: macrophage contact dependent interactions. Arthritis Research 4:S177-S182. Invited review chapter.

Foey, A.D., Green, P., Foxwell, B.M.J., Feldmann, M. and Brennan, F.M. (2002): Cytokine-stimulated T cells induce macrophage IL-10 production dependent on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and p70S6K: implications for rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Research 4: 64-70.

Foey, A.D., Feldmann, M. and Brennan, F.M. (2001): CD40 ligation induces macrophage IL-10 and TNFa production: Differential use of the PI3K and p42/44 MAPK-pathways. Cytokine 16: 131-142.

Foey, A.D., Feldmann, M. and Brennan, F.M. (2000): Route of monocyte differentiation determines their cytokine production profile: CD40 ligation induces interleukin-10 expression. Cytokine 12: 1496-1505.

Foey, A.D., Parry, S.L., Williams, L.M., Feldmann, M., Foxwell, B.M.J. and Brennan, F.M. (1998): Regulation of monocyte IL-10 synthesis by endogenous IL-1 and TNF-a: Role of the p38 and p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinases. J. Immunol. 160: 920-928.

Foey, A.D., Crawford, A. and Hall, N.D. (1997): Modulation of cytokine production by human mononuclear cells following impairment of Na,K-ATPase activity. Biochem. Biophys. Acta. Mol. Cell Res. 1355: 43-49.

Maubach, K., Foey, A.D. and Hall, N.D. (1993): Impaired activity of thiol-dependent ATPases in rheumatoid mononuclear cell membranes. Agents and Actions 39: C107-C109.

Published Abstracts

Habil, N., Al-Shamgani, H., Beal, J. and Foey, A. (2011): Probiotics modulate epithelial cell barrier properties influenced by co-culture with macrophages. Immunology 135 (S1): 131.

Foey, A. (2008): Macrophage phenotype determines NOD2 regulation of PAMP-induced cytokine profile. Immunology 125 (S1): 88.

Foey, A. (2008): Butyrate differentially regulates macrophage inflammatory responses to bacterial stimulation: a cautionary tale for probiotic development. Int. J. Probiotics & Prebiotics 3 (3): 180.

Foey, A. (2008): Macrophage phenotype, the key to the gut mucosal immune system NOD-ing off to commensal bacteria. Int. J. Probiotics & Prebiotics 3 (3): 180.

Zhang, Z., Panesar, M., Amjadi, P., Foey, A.D., Owen, S., Dazzi, F., Brennan, F.M. and Cope, A.P. (2005): Sustained downregulation of the TCRzeta chain defines a transition from antigen mode to inflammation mode during T cell differentiation. Arthritis Res. & Ther. 7(S1):S30.

Zhang, Z., Panesar, M., Amjadi, P., Foey, A., Clark, J.M., Isomaki, P., Dazzi, F., Brennan, F.M. and Cope, A.P. (2004): Does sustained downregulation of TCRz define a transition from antigen mode to inflammation mode during T cell differentiation? Immunology 113: 112 (suppl.).

Foey, A.D., Sacre, S., Powell, J., Foxwell, B. and Brennan, F.M. (2004): Distinct macrophage populations display differential effector responses upon TLR ligation. Immunology 113: 5 (suppl.).

Foey, A.D., Sacre, S., Amjadi, P. and Brennan, F.M. (2003): Pro-inflammatory macrophages: partial differentiation or preferential pathway? Immunology 110: 115 (suppl.). Eur. Cyt. Netw. 14(S3):58.

Brennan, F.M., Foey, A.D., Owen, S., Green, P., Foxwell, B. and Feldmann, M. (2003): TNF regulation in chronic inflammation: the involvement of a newly defined population of T cells. Eur. Cyt. Netw. 14:9.

Beech, J.T., Amjadi, P., Owen, S., Foey, A.D. and Brennan, F.M. (2003): Bystander activated lymphocytes: a phenotypic comparison with rheumatoid synovial lymphocytes. Eur. Cyt. Netw. 14:57 and Rheumatology 43(S2):19-20 (2004).

Owen, S., Amjadi, P., Green, P., Foey, A.D. and Brennan, F.M. (2003): Bystander activated lymphocytes in inflammation: a natural process? Eur. Cyt. Netw. 14:60. Immunology 110: 113 (suppl. 1) and Rheumatology 43(S2):28 (2004).

Feldmann, M., Foey, A.D., Andreakos, E., Bondeson, J., Horwood, N., Foxwell, B.M.J. and Brennan, F.M. (2002): TNFa regulation in rheumatoid arthritis. J. Interfer. Cyt. Res. 22(S1):S40.

Foey, A.D., Feldmann, M. and Brennan, F.M. (2000): Ligation of macrophage CD40 induces the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and sTNF-Rp75: priming determines cytokine profile and dependence on endogenous/exogenous cytokines. Minerva Biotecnologica J. Biotech. Mol. Biol. 12: 141.

Foey, A.D., Feldmann, M. and Brennan, F.M. (1999): The cognate interaction of CD40L with CD40 on macrophages mediates interleukin-10 expression: Cytokine profile is determined by differentiation status. Genes and Immunity 1: 75.

Foey, A.D., Williams, L.M., Parry, S.L., Feldmann, M., Foxwell, B.M.J. and Brennan, F.M. (1997): Differential regulation of LPS induced IL-10 by the p38 and p42/44 MAP kinase pathways in peripheral blood monocytes. Immunology 92 (S1): 64.

Foey, A.D., Crawford, A. and Hall, N.D. (1996): Dysfunctional Na/K-ATPase activity in rheumatoid synovial lining cells results in a defect in Fas-mediated apoptosis. Arthritis and Rheumatism 39: 132.

Foey, A.D., Clay, K., Crawford, A. and Hall, N.D. (1995): Ouabain inhibition of the Na/K-ATPase induces pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in PBMCs and synovial fibroblast cells. Arthritis and Rheumatism 38: 94.

Unpublished abstracts / conference procedings

Habil, N., Beal, J. and Foey, A. (2011): Probiotic bacterial species selectively modulate gut epithelial cell expression of beta defensin 2. International Probiotic Conference, Slovakia, 13th - 15th June.

Belfield, L., Bennett, J., Crean, S-J. and Foey, A. (2010): Macrophage subset cytokine responses to the oral pathogen genus Prevotella. International Association of Dental Research, Barcelona, Spain, 14th - 17th July.

Merry, R., Bennett, J., Crean, S-J. and Foey, A. (2010): Differential sensitivity of macrophage subsets to anti-inflammatory cytokines in periodontitis. International Association of Dental Research, Barcelona, Spain, 14th - 17th July.

Foey, A. and Crean, S-J. (2010): Differential suppression of macrophage subsets by Porphyromonas gingivalis. International Association of Dental Research, Barcelona, Spain, 14th - 17th July.

Habil, N., Beal, J. and Foey, A. (2010): The immunomodulatory effects of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota on monocyte, M1- and M2-macrophage cytokine production. International Probiotic Conference, Slovakia, 15th - 17th June.

Merry, R., Hanemann, O., Bennett, J. and Foey, A. (2010): The role of tumour associated macrophages in driving oral squamous cell carcinoma. PCMD Annual Graduate School Research Event, Torquay, UK, 11th-12th March.

Belfield, L., Foey, A. and Crean, S-J. (2009): Differential effector responses of macrophage subsets to Porphyromonas gingivalis. British Society for Dental Research, Glasgow, UK, Sept.