Dr Clett Erridge

Clett is a Senior Lecturer in Immunology. His research aims to establish the molecular mechanisms connecting inflammation to lipid metabolism, particularly in the context of coronary artery disease. He also has an interest in exploiting aspects of the innate immune system to promote the phagocytosis of tumour cells by macrophages.

[email protected]

Background

Clett completed his BSc in Molecular Biology (1997), and PhD in Molecular Immunology (2003), at the University of Edinburgh. He then completed Research Fellowships at the Universities of Strathclyde and Leicester, where his research progressed from an exploration of the impact of oxidised lipids on innate immune signalling, to the mechanisms by which pattern-recognition receptor signalling regulates lipid metabolism at the cellular and systemic levels.

Currently, Clett's work focuses primarily on the mechanisms connecting innate immune signalling with chronic metabolic disease, and also on the exploration of novel approaches to the enhancement of phagocytosis of tumour cells by macrophages. He is a member of the Biomedical Research Group.

Research interests

• Mechanisms connecting pattern-recognition receptor signalling to lipid metabolism in macrophages
• Regulation of innate immune signalling and inflammatory processes by products of the intestinal and food microbiota
• Development of novel therapeutic approaches to the promotion of phagocytosis of tumour cells by macrophages

Clett would be interested in supervising PhD study in the following areas:

• Roles of innate immune signalling in macrophage lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis
• Investigation of novel approaches to the promotion of phagocytosis of tumour cells by macrophages for cancer immunotherapy

Areas of research supervision

Clett would be interested in supervising PhD study in the following areas:

• Roles of innate immune signalling in macrophage lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis
• Regulation of reverse cholesterol transport by the acute phase response
• Drug development for novel cancer immunotherapy targets

Teaching

Module leader for MSc Laboratory Techniques
Contributes to Current Advances in Biomedical Science
Module Leader for Metabolism and its Control
Contributes to Clinical Immunology
Contributes to Core Biology 1&2
Contributes to Principles of Pathology

Qualifications

• PhD, Molecular Immunology, University of Edinburgh (2003)
• BSc (Hons) Molecular Biology, University of Edinburgh (1997)

Memberships, editorial boards

• Member, British Atherosclerosis Society
• Member, British Society for Cardiovascular Research
• Fellow, Higher Education Academy
• Associate Editor, Frontiers in Immunology

Research grants, consultancy, knowledge exchange

• Determining the mechanism of action of a therapeutic antibody targeting annexin pathways. Parris C, Foster H, Erridge C (CoI). 2018-19. Oncobiopharm Ltd, sponsored research. £123,000
• Diet-dependent regulation of innate immune function in atherosclerosis. Erridge C (PI), Stover C. October 2013 to September 2016. Iraq government funded PhD studentship. £54,000
• How do infections activate inflammation in MS? Role of TLR2. Gran B, Erridge C (CoI). March 2014 to February 2016. Italian MS society. €126,550
• Investigation of the roles of dietary TLR-stimulants in murine atherogenesis. Erridge C (PI). January 2013 to September 2013. Wellcome Trust ISSF. £6,000
• Human trial to investigate the link between food contamination with bacterial components and inflammation. Erridge C (PI). January 2010 to July 2010. Biobator pump priming fund. £10,000
• Comparison of type I interferon responses in subjects homozygous for 9p21 variants. Erridge C (PI). April 2011 to December 2011. Leicester University Biomedical Research Unit. £10,000
• A food or saliva test for risk of periodontitis, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Erridge C (PI). May 2011 to January 2012. EMDA Innovation Fellowship. £15,169
• Investigation of the mechanisms of foam cell formation in response to TLR-signalling. Erridge C (PI), A. Goodall. October 2009 to September 2012. University PhD Studentship. £43,770
• Role of oxidised phospholipids in the resolution of inflammation. Erridge C (PI). April 2007 to May 2008. A University of Strathclyde RDF bridging fund. £8,800
• Role of oxidative stress in arterial TLR2 expression. Erridge C (PI), Spickett CM. January 2005 to July 2005. Funded by Tenovus. £4,535
• Role of TLR4 mutations in cytokine responses to bacterial pathogens. Erridge C (PI), Spickett CM. June 2004 to August 2004. Funded by Nuffield. £2,500
• Role of smoking and high fat diet on low grade endotoxaemia. Erridge C (PI), Attina T, Spickett C, Webb D. April 2005 to December 2005. Scottish Executive Chief Scientist Office. £17,995
• Roles of Toll-like receptors in atherosclerosis. Erridge C, Webb D, Spickett C. Oct ‘03 to Oct ‘06. BHF sponsored Junior Fellowship. £92,589

Selected recent publications

Jenic D, Waller H, Collins H, Erridge C. Reversal of tetracycline resistance by cepharanthine, cinchonidine, ellagic acid and propyl gallate in a multi‑drug resistant Escherichia coli. Nat Prod Bioprospect (2020)

Faraj TA, Stover C, Erridge C. Dietary Toll-like receptor stimulants promote hepatic inflammation and impair reverse cholesterol transport in mice via macrophage-dependent interleukin-1 production. Front Immunol 10:1404 (2019)

Nelson CP, Erridge C. Are toll-like receptors potential drug targets for atherosclerosis? Evidence from genetic studies to date. Immunogenetics (2018)

Hossain MJ, Morandi E, Tanasescu R, Frakich N, Caldano M, Onion D, Faraj TA, Erridge C, Gran B. The Soluble Form of Toll-Like Receptor 2 Is Elevated in Serum of Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Novel Potential Disease Biomarker. Front Immunol 9:457 (2018)

Herbert KE, Erridge C. Regulation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by intestinal inflammation and the acute phase response. Cardiovasc Res 114:226-232 (2018)

Faraj TA, McLaughlin CL, Erridge C. Host defences against metabolic endotoxaemia and their impact on lipopolysaccharide detection. Int Rev Immunol 36:125-144 (2017)

Herieka M, Faraj TA, Erridge C. (2016) Reduced dietary intake of pro-inflammatory Toll-like receptor stimulants favourably modifies markers of cardiometabolic risk in healthy men. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 26:194-200.

Nelson CP, Schunkert H, Samani NJ, Erridge C. (2015) Genetic analysis of leukocyte type-I interferon production and risk of coronary artery disease. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 35:1456-62.

Erridge C, Gracey J, Braund PS, Samani NJ. (2013) The 9p21 locus does not affect risk of coronary artery disease through induction of type 1 interferons. J Am Coll Cardiol 62:1376-81.

Herieka M, Erridge C. (2013) High-fat meal induced postprandial inflammation. Mol Nutr Food Res 58:136-46.

Nicolaou G, Goodall AH, Erridge C. (2012) Diverse bacteria promote macrophage foam cell formation via TLR-dependent lipid body synthesis. J Atheroscler Thromb 19:137-48.

Erridge C. (2011) Diet, commensals and the intestine as sources of pathogen-associated molecular patterns in atherosclerosis, type II diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Atherosclerosis 216:1-6.

Erridge C. (2010) The capacity of foodstuffs to induce innate immune activation of human monocytes in vitro is dependent on food content of stimulants of Toll-like receptors 2 and 4. Br J Nutr 20:1-9.

Erridge C. (2010) Endogenous ligands of TLR2 and TLR4: agonists or assistants? J Leukoc Biol 87:989-99.

Nicolaou G, Erridge C. (2010) Toll-like receptor-dependent lipid body formation in macrophage foam cell formation. Curr Opin Lipidol 21:427-33.

Erridge C, Duncan SH, Bereswill S, Heimesaat MM. (2010) The induction of colitis and ileitis in mice is associated with marked increases in intestinal concentrations of stimulants of TLRs 2, 4 and 5. PLoS ONE 5:e9125.

Erridge C, Samani NJ. (2009) Saturated fatty acids do not directly stimulate Toll-like receptor signaling. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 29:1944-9.

Erridge C. (2009) Oxidised phospholipid inhibition of LPS-signalling: a good side to the bad guys? Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 29:337-338.

Erridge C. (2009) CD36: Promotion from scavenger receptor to mediator of migration? Cardiovasc Res 83:5-6.

Erridge C. (2009) The roles of Toll-like receptors in atherosclerosis. J Innate Immun 1:340-9.

Erridge C, Kennedy S, Spickett CM, Webb DJ. (2008) Oxidized phospholipid inhibition of toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling is restricted to TLR2 and TLR4: roles for CD14, LPS-binding protein, and MD2 as targets for specificity of inhibition. J Biol Chem 283:24748-59.

Erridge C. (2008) The roles of pathogen-associated molecular patterns in atherosclerosis. Trends Cardiovasc Med 18:52-6.

Erridge C, Burdess A, Jackson AJ, Murray C, Riggio M, Lappin D, Milligan S, Spickett CM, Webb DJ. (2008) Vascular cell responsiveness to Toll-like receptor ligands in carotid atheroma. Eur J Clin Invest 38:713-20.

Erridge C, Attina T, Spickett CM, Webb DJ. (2007) A high-fat meal induces low-grade endotoxemia: evidence of a novel mechanism of postprandial inflammation. Am J Clin Nutr 86:1286-92.

Erridge C, Spickett CM, Webb DJ. (2007) Non-enterobacterial endotoxins stimulate human coronary artery but not venous endothelial cell activation via Toll-like receptor 2. Cardiovasc Res 73:181-9.

Erridge C, Webb DJ, Spickett CM. (2007) Toll-like receptor 4 signalling is neither sufficient nor required for oxidised phospholipid mediated induction of interleukin-8 expression. Atherosclerosis 193:77-85.

Erridge C, Stewart J, Poxton IR. (2003) Monocytes heterozygous for the Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile mutations in the Toll-like receptor 4 gene show no deficit in lipopolysaccharide signalling. J Exp Med 197:1787-91.

Recent presentations and conferences

2016 - Cambridge University - Invited speaker
2013 - British Atherosclerosis Society - Invited speaker
2011 - Cambridge University - Invited speaker
2010 - Queen's University Belfast - Invited speaker
2010 - Reading University - Invited speaker
2008 - Rowett Institute - Aberdeen - Invited speaker
2008 - Scottish Cardiovascular Forum - Edinburgh - Invited speaker
2007 - Society for General Microbiology - Edinburgh - Invited speaker
2007 - Technical University - Graz - Invited speaker
2007 - Scottish Lipid Discussion Group - Glasgow - Invited speaker
2007 - Celcus - Glasgow - Invited speaker

Media experience

Outreach activities include contributions to ‘The Conversation’ and interviews with media outlets including BBC radio Cambridgeshire, l’Edition du Soir, the Daily Mail, Medicalresearch.com and NRT-TV.