The role of the extracellular matrix in determining cellular function, with particular emphasis on hyaluronan and molecules it interacts with. This general interest has led to more focused projects on:

• Regulation of fibroblast hyaluronan synthesis in relation to the development of a hyaluronan-rich stroma that promotes tumour growth and invasion.
• Development and utilisation of 3-dimensional collagenous invasion models to study tumour cell-fibroblast interactions.
• Characterisation of tumour cell-derived factors that stimulate fibroblast hyaluronan synthesis, and promote tumour cell invasion.
• Regulation of fibroblast hyaluronan synthesis during wound healing, and the influence of keratinocytes.
• Characterisation of keratinocyte-derived factors that stimulate fibroblast hyaluronan synthesis and suppress scar tissue formation.
• Elucidation of the mechanisms involved in fibroblast activation by gadolinium-based contrast agents, leading to nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. These mechanisms may have important similarities to the triggering of more common fibrotic diseases and enable therapeutic strategies to be developed.

Current Research Group Members:

• Dr Basith Amjad – (Research Fellow)
• Dr Jean Quinn (Research Fellow - Research and Teaching)

1. Timpson P, McGhee EJ, Erami Z, Quinn JA, Edward M, Anderson KI. Organotypic collagen I assay: a malleable platform to assess cell behaviour in a 3-dimensional context. J Visual Expts 2011; (in press) (corresponding author).
2. Katz E, Verleyen W, Blackmore CG, Edward M, Smith A, Harrison DJ. A novel analytical approach differentiates between individual and collective cancer cell invasion. Analyt Cell Pathol 2011 (in press).
3. Edward M, Quinn JA. Keratinocytes stimulate fibroblast hyaluronan synthesis through the release of stratifin: a possible role in suppression of scar tissue formation. Wound Rep Regen 2011; (in press).

4. Timpson P, McGhee EJ, Morton JP, Kreigsheim AV, Karim SA, Doyle B, Quinn JA, Carragher NO, Edward M, Frame MC, Brunton VG, Sansom OJ, Anderson KI. Spatial regulation of RhoA activity during mutant p53-driven pancreatic cancer cell invasion in live animals. Cancer Res 2011; 71:747-757.
5. Edward M, Quinn JA, Burden AD, Newton BB, Jardine AG. Effect of different classes of gadolinium-based contrast agents on control and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis-derived fibroblast proliferation. Radiology 2010; 256:735-743.
6. Katz E, Dubois-Marshall S, Sims AH, Faratian D, Smith ES, Quinn JA, Edward M, Meehan RR, Evans EE, Langdon SP, Harrison DJ. A gene on the HER2 amplicon, C35 (C17orf37), is an independent oncogene in breast cancer whose actions are prevented by inhibition of syk kinase. Br J Cancer 2010; 103:401-410.
7. Edward M, Quinn JA, Pasonen-Seppanen SM, McCann BA, Tammi RH. 4-Methylumbelliferone inhibits tumour cell growth and the activation of stromal hyaluronan synthesis by melanoma cell-derived factors. Br J Dermatol 2010; 162:1224-32.
8. Abraham JL, Edward M. Free gadolinium is a likely trigger of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Am J Roentgenol 2009;193:W354.
9. Edward, M., Quinn, JA., Mukherjee, S., Jensen, M-B., Jardine, AG., Mark, PB. And Burden AD.  MRI contrast agent 'activates' fibroblasts: a possible cause of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. J. Pathol.214, 584-593 (2008).
10. Amjad, SB., Carachi, R. and Edward, M.  Keratinocyte regulation of TGF-b and connective tissue growth factor expression: a role in suppression of scar tissue formation. Wound Repair and Regen. 15, 748-755 (2007).
11. Edward, M., Fitzgerald, L., Thind, C., Leman, J. and Burden, AD. Cutaneous mucinosis associated with dermatomyositis and nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy: fibroblast hyaluronan synthesis and the efect of patient serum.  Br. J. Dermatol. 156, 473-479 (2007).
12. Aasen, T., Graham, SV., Blessing, K., Edward, M. and Hodgins, MB.  Reduced expression of multiple gap junction proteins is a feature of cervical dysplasia. Molec. Cancer 4, 1-5 (2005).
13. Edward, M., Gillan, C., Micha, D. and Tammi, RH.  Tumour regulation of fibroblast hyaluronan expression: a mechanism to fascilitate tumour growth and invasion. Carcinogenesis 26,1215-1223 (2005).
14. Clayton, RF., Rinaldi, A., Kandyba, EE., Edward, M., Willberg, C., Klenerman, P. and Patel, A.H. Liver cell lines for the study of hepatocyte functions and immunological response.  Liver Int. 25, 389-402 (2005).
15. Aasen, T., Hodgins, MB., Edward, M. and Graham, SV. The relationship between connexins, gap junctions, tissue archirecture and tumour invasion, as studied in a novel in vitro model of HPV-16-associated cervical cancer progression. Oncogene 22, 7969-7980 (2003).
16. Edward, M. and Mackie, RM. Skin, in: ‘Oxford Companion to the Body’ pp623-623, Blakemore, C. and Jennett, S. Eds, Oxford University Press. (2002).
17. Brownbridge, GG., Gold, J., Edward, M. and MacKie, RM.  Evaluation of the use of tyrosine-specific and melanA/MART-1-specific reverse transcriptase-coupled polymerase chain reaction to detect melanoma cells in peripheral blood samples from 299 patients with malignant melanoma.  Br. J.Dermatol. 144, 279-287 (2001).
18. Edward, M. Melanoma cell-derived factors stimulate glycosaminoglycan synthesis by fibroblasts cultured as monolayers and within contracted collagen lattices. Br. J. Dermatol. 144, 465-470 (2001).

Dermatology - Clinical Specialties
School of Medicine
College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences
The Robertson Building
University of Glasgow
Glasgow G12 8QQ

Tel: +44 (0)141 330 4007
Fax: +44 (0)141 330 4008
Email: mike.edward@glasgow.ac.uk

Recent Research Funding

2011 - Omzest Group - £117,000
Research Fellowship – role of hyaluronan in tumour growth and invasion

2011 - Yorkhill Hospital - £3,000
Support for study involving immunohistochemical localisation of hyaluronan and associated molecules in tumour growth and invasion.

2009 - GE Healthcare £42,000
Role of gadolinium-based contrast agents in the activation of fibroblasts and the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis

2010 - GE-Healthcare £41,000
Molecular changes in fibroblasts following exposure to gadolinium-based contrast agents

2007 - Omzest group - £128,000
The S. Abdul Waheed Fellowship in Cancer Research

2006  – British Skin Foundation - £38,000
Effect of 4-methylumbelliferone on hyaluronan synthesis by dermatomyositis and scleromyxedema-like dialysis patient fibroblasts within a living skin equivalent.