Professor Eva E Qwarnstrom

Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health

Honorary Professor of Cell Biology

e.qwarnstrom@sheffield.ac.uk

The Medical School

Full contact details

Professor Eva E Qwarnstrom
Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health
The Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX

Profile

For enquiries, please contact – iicd-om-operational@sheffield.ac.uk

I graduated from the University of Lund Sweden in 1984 after spending three years as a Fogarty Fellow in Biological Structure, at the National Institute of Health, Bethesda, USA. This was followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Pathology at the University of Washington in Seattle, where I was appointed Associate Professor in 1993.

In 1996 I was granted an Affiliated Associate Professorship in Pathology at the University of Washington, as I joined the University of Sheffield, where I took up a chair in Cell Biology in 2001.

Research interests

My research focuses on regulation of inflammatory responses, specifically on events related to receptor function and cell signalling. The programme includes analysis of activities induced by soluble mediators such as growth-factors and cytokines, and by biomechanical events, regulated through matrix structure and the cytoskeleton.

Current studies focus on TIR mediated responses, primarily the analysis of Toll-like and IL-1 receptor function and signal transduction. Recent findings include identification of a novel TIR regulating receptor (TILRR), which controls immune and inflammatory signal transduction through the IL-1 type I signalling receptor.

Work on signal transduction is centred on analysis of molecular mechanism controlling the NF-κB pathway, with particular emphasis on signalling crosstalk, and the use of real time analysis of regulatory events. Collaborative projects include the use of single cell analysis and GFP-based methods as the basis for computational modelling of complex regulatory networks.

Current projects:

Regulation of cancer metastasis (collaboration with Penelope Ottewell, Juha Rantala, Univ. Sheffield, Siu-Pok Yee, Univ. Connecticut).
Extracellular protein interactions (collaboration with Mark Geoghegan, Univ. Nottingham).
Signalling crosstalk (collaboration with Chris Zhang, GIBH, Guangzhou).

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Featured publications

Journal articles

Kennelly TM, Li Y, Cao Y, Qwarnstrom EE & Geoghegan M (2019) Distinct binding interactions of α5β1-integrin and proteoglycans with fibronectin. Biophysical Journal. View this article in WRRO
Smith SA, Samokhin AO, Alfadi M, Murphy EC, Rhodes D, Kiss-Toth E, Storey RF, Yee S-P, Francis SE & Qwarnstrom EE (2017) The IL-1RI Co-Receptor TILRR (FREM1 Isoform 2) Controls Aberrant Inflammatory Responses and Development of Vascular Disease. JACC - Journal of the American College of Cardiology bts, 2(4), 398-414. View this article in WRRO
Rhodes DM, Holcombe M & Qwarnstrom EE (2016) Reducing complexity in an Agent Based Reaction Model—Benefits and limitations of simplifications in relation to run time and system level output. Biosystems, 147, 21-27. View this article in WRRO
Williams RA, Timmis J & Qwarnstrom EE (2016) Statistical Techniques Complement UML When Developing Domain Models of Complex Dynamical Biosystems.. PLoS One, 11(8). View this article in WRRO
Rhodes DM, Smith SA, Holcombe M & Qwarnstrom EE (2015) Computational Modelling of NF-κB Activation by IL-1RI and Its Co-Receptor TILRR, Predicts a Role for Cytoskeletal Sequestration of IκBα in Inflammatory Signalling. PLoS ONE, 10(6). View this article in WRRO
Williams RA, Timmis J & Qwarnstrom EE (2015) The rise in computational systems biology approaches for understanding NF-κB signaling dynamics. Science Signaling, 8(385), fs13-fs13.
Williams RA, Timmis J & Qwarnstrom EE (2014) Computational Models of the NF-KB Signalling Pathway. MDPI Computation, 2(4), 131-158.
Hudson RC, Gray C, Kiss-Toth E, Chico TJA & Qwarnstrom EE (2012) Bioinformatics Analysis of the FREM1 Gene—Evolutionary Development of the IL-1R1 Co-Receptor, TILRR. Biology, 1(3), 484-494. View this article in WRRO
Zhang X, Montagut Pino G, Shephard F, Kiss-Toth E & Qwarnstrom EE (2012) Distinct control of MyD88 adapter-dependent and Akt kinase-regulated responses by the interleukin (IL)-1RI co-receptor, TILRR.. J Biol Chem, 287(15), 12348-12352.
Holcombe M, Adra S, Bicak M, Chin S, Coakley S, Graham AI, Green J, Greenough C, Jackson D, Kiran M , MacNeil S et al (2012) Modelling complex biological systems using an agent-based approach.. Integr Biol (Camb), 4(1), 53-64.
Zhang X, Shephard F, Kim HB, Palmer IR, McHarg S, Fowler GJS, O'Neill LAJ, Kiss-Toth E & Qwarnstrom EE (2010) TILRR, a novel IL-1RI co-receptor, potentiates MyD88 recruitment to control Ras-dependent amplification of NF-kappaB.. J Biol Chem, 285(10), 7222-7232.
Kim H-B, Evans I, Smallwood R, Holcombe M & Qwarnstrom EE (2010) NIK and IKKbeta interdependence in NF-kappaB signalling--flux analysis of regulation through metabolites.. Biosystems, 99(2), 140-149.
Pogson M, Smallwood R, Qwarnstrom E & Holcombe M (2006) Formal agent-based modelling of intracellular chemical interactions.. Biosystems, 85(1), 37-45.
Ganguli A, Persson L, Palmer IR, Evans I, Yang L, Smallwood R, Black R & Qwarnstrom EE (2005) Distinct NF-kappaB regulation by shear stress through Ras-dependent IkappaBalpha oscillations: real-time analysis of flow-mediated activation in live cells.. Circ Res, 96(6), 626-634.

Conference proceedings papers

Williams RA, Timmis J & Qwarnstrom EE (2017) Investigating IKK dynamics in the NF-κB signalling pathway using X-Machines. 2017 IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC), 5 June 2017 - 8 June 2017. View this article in WRRO

All publications

Journal articles

Kennelly TM, Li Y, Cao Y, Qwarnstrom EE & Geoghegan M (2019) Distinct binding interactions of α5β1-integrin and proteoglycans with fibronectin. Biophysical Journal. View this article in WRRO
Smith SA, Samokhin AO, Alfadi M, Murphy EC, Rhodes D, Kiss-Toth E, Storey RF, Yee S-P, Francis SE & Qwarnstrom EE (2017) The IL-1RI Co-Receptor TILRR (FREM1 Isoform 2) Controls Aberrant Inflammatory Responses and Development of Vascular Disease. JACC - Journal of the American College of Cardiology bts, 2(4), 398-414. View this article in WRRO
Rhodes DM, Holcombe M & Qwarnstrom EE (2016) Reducing complexity in an Agent Based Reaction Model—Benefits and limitations of simplifications in relation to run time and system level output. Biosystems, 147, 21-27. View this article in WRRO
Williams RA, Timmis J & Qwarnstrom EE (2016) Statistical Techniques Complement UML When Developing Domain Models of Complex Dynamical Biosystems.. PLoS One, 11(8). View this article in WRRO
Williams RA, Timmis J & Qwarnstrom EE (2015) Towards a platform model of the IL-1 stimulated NF-kB signalling pathway using communicating stream X-machines. CosMoS 2015, 2015, 107-110.
Rhodes DM, Smith SA, Holcombe M & Qwarnstrom EE (2015) Computational Modelling of NF-κB Activation by IL-1RI and Its Co-Receptor TILRR, Predicts a Role for Cytoskeletal Sequestration of IκBα in Inflammatory Signalling. PLoS ONE, 10(6). View this article in WRRO
Williams RA, Timmis J & Qwarnstrom EE (2015) The rise in computational systems biology approaches for understanding NF-κB signaling dynamics. Science Signaling, 8(385), fs13-fs13.
Williams RA, Timmis J & Qwarnstrom EE (2014) Computational Models of the NF-KB Signalling Pathway. MDPI Computation, 2(4), 131-158.
Rhodes D, Smith S, Qwarnstrom E & Holcombe M (2014) 166 Increase in TILRR Expression in Areas of Vascular Inflammation Alters NF-KB Control Through Cytoskeletal Release of the Inhibitor IKBA - Interdisciplinary Analysis Using Predictive Agent Based Modelling.. Heart, 100 Suppl 3, A95.
Samokhin AO, Francis SE & Qwarnstrom EE (2014) Blocking the IL-1RI Co-receptor TILRR Reduces Vascular Inflammation – in vivo Analysis Using TILRR Knockout Mice. Heart, 100.
Hudson RC, Gray C, Kiss-Toth E, Chico TJA & Qwarnstrom EE (2012) Bioinformatics Analysis of the FREM1 Gene—Evolutionary Development of the IL-1R1 Co-Receptor, TILRR. Biology, 1(3), 484-494. View this article in WRRO
Zhang X, Montagut Pino G, Shephard F, Kiss-Toth E & Qwarnstrom EE (2012) Distinct control of MyD88 adapter-dependent and Akt kinase-regulated responses by the interleukin (IL)-1RI co-receptor, TILRR.. J Biol Chem, 287(15), 12348-12352.
Neilan M, Zhang X, Steiner T, Boyle J, Francis S, Haskard D & Qwarnstrom E (2012) 18 TILRR Functional Mutants Selectively Inhibit Inflammatory and Anti-Apoptotic Responses. Heart, 98, A6.
Holcombe M, Adra S, Bicak M, Chin S, Coakley S, Graham AI, Green J, Greenough C, Jackson D, Kiran M , MacNeil S et al (2012) Modelling complex biological systems using an agent-based approach.. Integr Biol (Camb), 4(1), 53-64.
Pino GM, Zhang X & Qwarnstrom EE (2010) BAS/BSCR5 TILRR potentiates interleukin-1-induced anti-apoptosis. Heart, 96(17), e13-e14.
Neilan M, Zhang X, Francis S & Qwarnstrom EE (2010) BAS/BSCR51 Control of vascular cell inflammatory responses through TILRR, an interleukin 1 co-receptor. Heart, 96(17), e27-e27.
Zhang X, Shephard F, Kim HB, Palmer IR, McHarg S, Fowler GJS, O'Neill LAJ, Kiss-Toth E & Qwarnstrom EE (2010) TILRR, a novel IL-1RI co-receptor, potentiates MyD88 recruitment to control Ras-dependent amplification of NF-kappaB.. J Biol Chem, 285(10), 7222-7232.
Kim H-B, Evans I, Smallwood R, Holcombe M & Qwarnstrom EE (2010) NIK and IKKbeta interdependence in NF-kappaB signalling--flux analysis of regulation through metabolites.. Biosystems, 99(2), 140-149.
Dower SK, Qwarnstrom EE & Kiss-Toth E (2007) Fluorescent protein reporter systems for single-cell measurements.. Methods Mol Biol, 411, 111-119.
Guan H, Holland K, Qwarnstrom E, Dower SK & Kiss-Toth E (2006) Feedback loops in intracellular signal processing and their potential for identifying novel signalling proteins.. Cell Immunol, 244(2), 158-161.
Pogson M, Smallwood R, Qwarnstrom E & Holcombe M (2006) Formal agent-based modelling of intracellular chemical interactions.. Biosystems, 85(1), 37-45.
Kiss-Toth E, Wyllie DH, Holland K, Marsden L, Jozsa V, Oxley KM, Polgar T, Qwarnstrom EE & Dower SK (2006) Functional mapping and identification of novel regulators for the Toll/Interleukin-1 signalling network by transcription expression cloning.. Cell Signal, 18(2), 202-214.
Wyllie DH, Kiss-Toth E, Holland K, Marsden L, Jozsa V, Oxley KM, Polgar T, Qwarnstrom EE & Dower SK (2005) Functional mapping of Toll/interleukin-1 signalling networks by expression cloning. Biochemical Society Transactions, 33(6), 1405-1405.
Kiss-Toth E, Wyllie DH, Holland K, Marsden L, Jozsa V, Oxley KM, Polgar T, Qwarnstrom EE & Dower SK (2005) Functional mapping of Toll/interleukin-1 signalling networks by expression cloning.. Biochem Soc Trans, 33(Pt 6), 1405-1406.
Telekes A, Kiss-Tóth E, Nagy T, Qwarnstrom EE, Kúsz E, Polgár T, Resetár A, Dower SK & Duda E (2005) Synergistic effect of Avemar on proinflammatory cytokine production and Ras-mediated cell activation.. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1051, 515-528.
Ganguli A, Persson L, Palmer IR, Evans I, Yang L, Smallwood R, Black R & Qwarnstrom EE (2005) Distinct NF-kappaB regulation by shear stress through Ras-dependent IkappaBalpha oscillations: real-time analysis of flow-mediated activation in live cells.. Circ Res, 96(6), 626-634.
Kiss-Toth E, Bagstaff SM, Sung HY, Jozsa V, Dempsey C, Caunt JC, Oxley KM, Wyllie DH, Polgar T, Harte M , O'neill LAJ et al (2004) Human tribbles, a protein family controlling mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades.. J Biol Chem, 279(41), 42703-42708.
Kiss-Toth E, Qwarnstrom EE & Dower SK (2004) Hunting for genes by functional screens.. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev, 15(2-3), 97-102.
Dower SK & Qwarnstrom EE (2003) Signalling networks, inflammation and innate immunity.. Biochem Soc Trans, 31(Pt 6), 1462-1471.
Lawrie A, Brisken AF, Francis SE, Wyllie D, Kiss-Toth E, Qwarnstrom EE, Dower SK, Crossman DC & Newman CM (2003) Ultrasound-enhanced transgene expression in vascular cells is not dependent upon cavitation-induced free radicals.. Ultrasound Med Biol, 29(10), 1453-1461.
Yang L, Ross K & Qwarnstrom EE (2003) RelA control of IkappaBalpha phosphorylation: a positive feedback loop for high affinity NF-kappaB complexes.. J Biol Chem, 278(33), 30881-30888.
Schooley K, Zhu P, Dower SK & Qwarnström EE (2003) Regulation of nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB relA: evidence for complex dynamics at the single-cell level.. Biochem J, 369(Pt 2), 331-339.
Valles S, Caunt CJ, Walker MH & Qwarnstrom EE (2002) PDGF enhancement of IL-1 receptor levels in smooth muscle cells involves induction of an attachment-regulated, heparan sulfate binding site (IL-1RIII).. Lab Invest, 82(7), 855-862.
Evans IC, Ray K & Qwarnstrom E (2001) Regulation of IκBα by the upstream kinases. Biochemical Society Transactions, 29(5), A128-A128.
Caunt CJ, Kiss-Toth E, Walker M, Sims J & Qwarnstrom EE (2001) The putative GTPase activating protein IIP-1 functions antagonistically to Ras in the regulation of Interleukin-1 signalling. Biochemical Society Transactions, 29(5), A130-A130.
Yang L, Chen H & Qwarnstrom E (2001) Degradation of IkappaBalpha is limited by a postphosphorylation/ubiquitination event.. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 285(3), 603-608.
Caunt CJ, Kiss-Toth E, Carlotti F, Chapman R & Qwarnstrom EE (2001) Ras controls tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF)6-dependent induction of nuclear factor-kappa b. Selective regulation through receptor signaling components.. J Biol Chem, 276(9), 6280-6288.
Huang WY, Vallés S & Qwarnstrom EE (2001) Translocation of the IL-1 receptor to focal adhesions is regulated through the C-terminal end of the cytoplasmic domain.. Cell Biol Int, 25(4), 309-317.
Carlotti F, Dower SK & Qwarnstrom EE (2000) Dynamic shuttling of nuclear factor kappa B between the nucleus and cytoplasm as a consequence of inhibitor dissociation.. J Biol Chem, 275(52), 41028-41034.
Kiss-Toth E, Guesdon FM, Wyllie DH, Qwarnstrom EE & Dower SK (2000) A novel mammalian expression screen exploiting green fluorescent protein-based transcription detection in single cells.. J Immunol Methods, 239(1-2), 125-135.
Slack JL, Schooley K, Bonnert TP, Mitcham JL, Qwarnstrom EE, Sims JE & Dower SK (2000) Identification of two major sites in the type I interleukin-1 receptor cytoplasmic region responsible for coupling to pro-inflammatory signaling pathways.. J Biol Chem, 275(7), 4670-4678.
Carlotti F, Chapman R, Dower SK & Qwarnstrom EE (1999) Activation of nuclear factor kappaB in single living cells. Dependence of nuclear translocation and anti-apoptotic function on EGFPRELA concentration.. J Biol Chem, 274(53), 37941-37949.
Vallés S, Tsoi C, Huang WY, Wyllie D, Carlotti F, Askari JA, Humphries MJ, Dower SK & Qwarnström EE (1999) Recruitment of a heparan sulfate subunit to the interleukin-1 receptor complex. Regulation by fibronectin attachment.. J Biol Chem, 274(29), 20103-20109.
Royds JA, Dower SK, Qwarnstrom EE & Lewis CE (1998) Response of tumour cells to hypoxia: role of p53 and NFkB.. Mol Pathol, 51(2), 55-61.
Zhu P, Xiong W, Rodgers G & Qwarnstrom EE (1998) Regulation of interleukin 1 signalling through integrin binding and actin reorganization: disparate effects on NF-kappaB and stress kinase pathways.. Biochem J, 330 ( Pt 2), 975-981.
Ostberg CO, Zhu P, Wight TN & Qwarnstrom EE (1995) Fibronectin attachment is permissive for IL-1 mediated gene regulation.. FEBS Lett, 367(1), 93-97.
Qwarnström EE, Ostberg CO, Turk GL, Richardson CA & Bomsztyk K (1994) Fibronectin attachment activates the NF-kappa B p50/p65 heterodimer in fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells.. J Biol Chem, 269(49), 30765-30768.
Qwarnström EE, Järveläinen HT, Kinsella MG, Ostberg CO, Sandell LJ, Page RC & Wight TN (1993) Interleukin-1 beta regulation of fibroblast proteoglycan synthesis involves a decrease in versican steady-state mRNA levels.. Biochem J, 294 ( Pt 2), 613-620.
Luddington S, Qwarnström EE, Page RC & Bordin S (1993) Expression and function of gingival fibroblast C1q receptors are upregulated by interleukin-1 beta and transforming growth factor-beta.. J Cell Physiol, 155(1), 157-163.
Wight TN, Kinsella MG & Qwarnström EE (1992) The role of proteoglycans in cell adhesion, migration and proliferation.. Curr Opin Cell Biol, 4(5), 793-801. View this article in WRRO
Qwarnström EE, Kinsella MG, MacFarlane SA, Page RC & Wight TN (1992) Modulation of proteoglycan metabolism by human fibroblasts maintained in an endogenous three-dimensional matrix.. Eur J Cell Biol, 57(1), 101-108.
Dower SK, Qwarnstrom EE, Page RC, Blanton RA, Kupper TS, Raines E, Ross R & Sims JE (1990) Biology of the interleukin-1 receptor.. J Invest Dermatol, 94(6 Suppl), 68S-73S.
Curtis BM, Widmer MB, deRoos P & Qwarnstrom EE (1990) IL-1 and its receptor are translocated to the nucleus.. J Immunol, 144(4), 1295-1303.
Dardick I, Jeans MT, Sinnott NM, Wittkuhn JF, Kahn HJ & Baumal R (1985) Salivary gland components involved in the formation of squamous metaplasia.. Am J Pathol, 119(1), 33-43.
Qwarnstrom E, Bodner L, Baum B, Hand A & Omnell K-A (1984) Basic Biological Sciences Saliva Secretion from the Rat Submandibular Gland after Retrograde Infusion of Radiographic Contrast Media. Journal of Dental Research, 63(5), 614-617.
Bodner L, Qwarnstrom E, Omnell K-A, Hand AR & Baum BJ (1983) Rat submandibular gland secretion: A bilateral and longitudinal comparative study. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology, 74(4), 829-831.
Omnell K-Å & Qwarnström EE (1983) A Technique for Intraoral Cannulation and Infusion of the Rat Submandibular Gland. Dentomaxillofacial Radiology, 12(1), 13-15.
Bodner L, Qwarnstrom E & Baum B (1982) Stimulated rat submandibular gland secretion: Normal features and response to retrograde infusion. Journal of Dental Research, 61(Abs.).

Chapters

Dower SK, Qwarnstrom EE & Kiss-Toth E () Fluorescent Protein Reporter Systems for Single-Cell Measurements, Reporter Genes: A Practical Guide (pp. 111-120). Humana Press

Conference proceedings papers

Williams RA, Timmis J & Qwarnstrom EE (2017) Investigating IKK dynamics in the NF-κB signalling pathway using X-Machines. 2017 IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC), 5 June 2017 - 8 June 2017. View this article in WRRO
Qwarnstrom EE (2016) Regulation of Inflammatory and anti-apoptotic responses through the IL-1RI/TILRR complex.. Biol. Syst. Open access, Vol. 2(5) (pp 31-31) View this article in WRRO
Smith S, Samokhin A, Murphy E, Francis S & Qwarnstrom E (2015) 217 Altered Regulation of the Inhibitor IÎºBÎ± Contributes to Changes in NF-ÎºB Regulated Genes in the TILRR ko Mouse. Heart, Vol. 101(Suppl 4) (pp A118.2-A119)
Murphy E, Samokhin A, Francis S, Bowskill S & Qwarnstrom E (2014) 187 The inflammatory phenotype of the tilrr knockout mouse - mechanisms undelying reduced responses to vascular injury.. Heart, Vol. 100 Suppl 3 (pp A104-A105). England
Williams RA, Timmis J & Qwarnstrom EE (2012) Domain Modelling - When UML is not Enough: A Case Study using the IL-1 Stimulated NF-kB Intracellular Signalling Pathway. Artificial Immune Systems 11th International Conference, ICARIS 2012, Taormina, Italy, August 28-31, 2012, Proceedings, 28 August 2012 - 31 August 2012.
Montagut G, Palmer IR & Qwarnstrom EE (2011) TILRR AMPLIFIES ACTIVATION OF NF-kappa B AND INFLAMMATORY GENES THROUGH MECHANOTRANSDUCTION. HEART, Vol. 97(20) (pp 6-6)

Research group

PhD students

Jiabao Zhou

Professional activities and memberships

Editorial Member:
- SM Journal of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Diseases.
- Journal of Clinical and Interventional Cardiology (JCIC).
- Journal of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine.