National University of Ireland, Maynooth

National University of Ireland, Maynooth
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Faculties & Departments

Department of Biology

Shirley O'Dea (nee McBride), B.Sc. (UCD), Ph.D. (DCU)
Head of Laboratory

Epithelial Immunobiology Group

Research Interests:

As the principle organs of gas exchange in the body, the lungs are constantly exposed to the vast array of substances present in inhaled air, yet they are lined by just a single layer of epithelial cells. The main functions of the cells lining the conducting airways involve protection against harmful inhaled substances as well as warming and humidifying the air before it reaches the delicate alveolar regions where gas exchange takes place. My team is studying the lung epithelium and the signalling networks that influence its functions in health and disease.

The airway epithelium is not merely a passive barrier preventing the entry of harmful substances into the host. The cells within the epithelium carry out a range of specialised functions including detoxification of harmful substances and active defence against microorganisms as well as communicating directly with the immune and inflammatory systems. To carry out these essential functions, the epithelium must be intact and contain the appropriate subpopulations of specialised cells. Chronic exposure to harmful substances and underlying genetic factors can compromise defence and repair mechanisms in the lungs, leading to long term damage and disease.

graphic cells

My group is interested in interactions between the lung epithelium and its microenvironment and the ways in which lung epithelial cells, mesenchymal cells and immune and inflammatory cells modulate each other's functions in health and disease. In particular, we are interested in mechanisms of regeneration within damaged airways and we are investigating both normal repair processes and the alterations in these pathways that lead to the development of disease. We are examining the effects of signals emanating from 1. inflammatory and immune cells, 2. underlying mesenchymal cells and extracellular matrices and 3. neighbouring epithelial cells on epithelial cell proliferation and function. Understanding these signalling networks should result in the identification of potential areas for intervention strategies to prevent, treat and cure lung disease. In addition, we are examining stem and progenitor cell pathways operating within the epithelium in order to identify potential target cells for regeneration therapies, gene therapy and cancer treatments.

chart

Selected Publications

  • Field-Corbett, C. English, K. and O’Dea, S. (2008) Regulation of surfactant protein B gene expression in bone marrow-derived cells. Stem Cells. (In Press)
  • Molloy, E.L., Adams, A., Moore, J.B., Masterson, J.C., Madrigal-Estebas, L., Mahon, B.P. and O’Dea, S. (2008) BMP4 induces an epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like response in adult airway epithelial cells. Growth Factors. 26(1):12-22.
  • Gilbert, J.L., Purcell, J., Strappe, P., McCabe, M., O’Brien, T. and O’Dea, S. (2008) Comparative evaluation of viral, non-viral and physical methods of gene delivery to normal and transformed lung epithelial cells. Anti-Cancer Drugs. 19(8):783-788.
  •  Codoñer, F.M., O’Dea, S. and Fares, M.A. (2008) Reducing the false discovery rate in the non-parametric analysis of molecular co-evolution. BMC Evolutionary Biology. 8:106.
  • McGauran, A.T., Moore, J.B., Madsen, D., Barry, D., O’Dea, S., Mahon, B.P. and Commins, S. (2008) A possible role for protein synthesis, ERK and BDNF in long-term spatial memory retention in the water maze. Behavioural Neuroscience. 122(4):805-815.
  • Field-Corbett, C. and O’Dea, S. (2007) Soluble signals from mechanically disrupted lung tissue induce lung-related gene expression in bone marrow-derived cells in vitro. Stem Cells Dev. 16:231-242.
  • Masterson, J.C. and O’Dea, S. (2007) 5-Bromo-2-deoxyuridine activates DNA damage signaling responses and induces a senescence-like phenotype in p16-null lung cancer cells. Anti-Cancer Drugs. 18:1053-1068.
  • Masterson, J and O’Dea, S. (2007) Posttranslational truncation of E-cadherin and significance for tumour progression. Cells Tiss Organs. 185(1-3):175-179.
  • Blundell, R., Harrison, D.J. and O'Dea S. (2004) p21 Waf1/Cip1 Regulates Proliferation and Apoptosis in Airway Epithelial Cells and Alternative Forms have Altered Binding Activities. Exp Lung Res. 30, 447-464.
  • O'Dea, S. and Harrison, D.J.H. (2002) CFTR Gene Transfer to Lung Epithelium – On the Trail of a Target Cell. Invited review. Current Gene Therapy. 2:173-181.
  • McBride, S., Rannie, D. and Harrison, D. (2000) Gene transfer to adult human lung tissue ex vivo. Gene Therapy. 7:675-678.
  • McBride, S., Tatrai, E., Blundell, R., Kovacikova, Z., Cardozo, L., Adamis, Z., Smith, T. and Harrison, D. (2000) Characterisation of lectin binding patterns of mouse bronchiolar and rat alveolar epithelial cells in culture. Histochem. J. 32:33-40.
  • McBride, S., Walsh, D., Meleady, P., Daly, N. and Clynes, M. (1999) Bromodeoxyuridine induces keratin protein synthesis at a posttranscriptional level in human lung tumour cell lines. Differentiation. 64:185-193.
  • McBride, S., Meleady, P., Baird, A., Dinsdale, D. and Clynes, M. (1998) Human lung carcinoma cell line DLKP contains 3 distinct subpopulations with different growth and attachment properties. Tumor Biol. 19:88-103.
  • Daly, C., Coyle, S., McBride, S., O'Driscoll, L., Daly, N., Scanlon, K. and Clynes, M. (1996) Mdr-1 ribozyme-mediated reversal of the multi-drug resistant phenotype in human lung cell lines. Cytotechnology. 19:199-205.
  • Clynes, M., Heenan, M., McBride, S., Cleary, I., Doherty, G., O'Driscoll, L. and Moran, E. (1995) Multiple drug resistance in variants of a human lung line exposed to adriamycin and VP-16. J.Exp.Clin.Cancer Res. 14:15-16.
Last edited: Thursday, 04-Mar-2010 12:23:17 GMT

Biology Department , NUI Maynooth
Tel: +353-1-708 3843 | Fax: +353-1-708 3845| Email: terry.roche@nuim.ie