Dr Andy Howden

My research group use quantitative proteomics and protein biochemistry to provide new molecular understanding into how immune cells sense and respond to their environment and regulate core cellular processes.

Our group have a particular interest in understanding how B cells regulate their protein landscape upon activation and as they differentiate into plasma cell populations. One major aim of our research is to understand how antibody secreting plasma cells fuel protein production. Individual plasma cells can secrete up to 10,000 antibodies every second, putting enormous metabolic demands on the cell. Plasma cell dysfunction is linked to a broad spectrum of diseases from autoimmunity to neurodegeneration. Our research aims to identify the transport machinery and metabolic regulators that fuel plasma cell protein production. We also aim to understand how these cells maintain protein production for years (long-lived plasma cells) and how tissue niche shapes metabolic output. Ultimately, we aim to characterise the activity of plasma cells in ageing and autoimmune individuals, linking fundamental basic biology back to disease. 

The lab also has an active interest in how immune cell dysfunction is linked to neurodegenerative disease and we are currently using quantitative mass spectrometry to map immune cells in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease and to identify biomarkers for disease. 

Selected Publications

• Sollberger G, Brenes AJ, Warner J, Arthur JSC and Howden AJM. (2024) Quantitative proteomics reveals tissue-specific, infection-induced and species-specific neutrophil protein signatures. Scientific Reports. Mar 12;14(1):5966. 
• Long MB*, Howden AJM*, Keir HR*, Rollings CM*, et al., (2024) Extensive acute and sustained changes to neutrophil proteomes post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. Eur Respir J. Mar 7;63(3):2300787. *shared first author.
• *Lloyd, AF, Muriana, AM, Hou, P, Davis, E, Mancuso, R, Brenes, AJ, Geric, I, Snellinx, A, Craessaerts, K, Theys, T, Fiers, M, *De Strooper, B and *Howden, AJM. (2024) Deep proteomic analysis of human microglia and model systems reveal fundamental biological differences of in vitro and ex vivo cells. Cell Reports. 43 (11) 114908. *co-corresponding author.
• Salerno, F, Howden, AJM, Matheson, L, Screen, M, Lingel, H, Brunner-Weinzierl, MC, and Turner, M. (2023) An integrated proteome and transcriptome of B cell maturation defines poised activation states of transitional and mature B cells. Nature Commun. Aug 14(1):5116.
• Baker, CP, Phair, IR, Brenes, AJ, Ryan, D, Dinkova-Kostova, A, *Arthur, JSC and *Howden, AJM. (2022) DIA-label free proteomic analysis of murine bone marrow derived macrophages using the S-Trap method and Spectronaut. Star Protocols 26;3(4):101725 *co-corresponding author. 
• Damasio, MP, Marchingo, JM, Spinelli, L, *Cantrell, DA and *Howden, AJM. (2021) Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway control of CD8+ T cell differentiation. Biochemical Journal. 478 (1) pp79–98. *co-corresponding author
• *Reyes, L, *Sanchez-Garcia, MA, *Morrison, T, *Howden, AJM et al., (2021) A type I IFN, prothrombotic hyperinflammatory neutrophil signature is distinct for COVID-19 ARDS. Wellcome Open Research. 6:38. *shared first author
• Howden, AJM., Hukelmann, JL, Brenes, A, Spinelli, L, Sinclair, LV, Lamond, AI and Cantrell, DA. (2019) Quantitative analysis of T cell proteomes and environmental sensors during T cell differentiation. Nature Immunology 20, pp1542–1554.

I teach across a range of modules covering Biological and Biomedical Sciences. 

• Module manager for Level 3 Cell Signalling (BS32006)
• Module manager for Level 4 Advanced Cell Signalling (BS42013)
• Lecturer for Level 3 Immunology (BS32009)

Additional roles

I’m the events coordinator of the Dundee Research Interest Group (DRIG) for Parkinson’s disease which links people affected by PD with the Dundee PD research community.