Richard Hewitt

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  David Gaboriau dgaboriau.bsky.social · Nov 22, 2025
  New study on pulmonary fibrosis highlights changes in immune/epithelial cell communication in the lung publications.ersnet.org/content/erjo... Thank you Richard @drrjhewitt.bsky.social for allowing me to participate

  Single-Cell RNA-seq Reveals Aberrant Airway Epithelial-Immune Cell Crosstalk In Pulmonary Fibrosis

  BackgroundEpithelial-immune cell interactions are crucial in the regulation of pulmonary immune responses. Emerging evidence suggests that cell populations lining the airways may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a disease characterised by progressive scarring of the lung parenchyma. We profiled the cellular landscape of the airway mucosal niche in incident cases of IPF to understand early-stage events contributing to disease development.MethodsSingle-cell RNA-sequencing was used to explore cellular heterogeneity in proximal airway brushings from seven healthy controls and nine patients with newly diagnosed IPF. In-depth bioinformatics analysis was used to interrogate changes in cell populations and cell-cell communication in IPF patients compared to controls.ResultsWe show a relative increase in the abundance of airway macrophage subsets in IPF compared to healthy controls, and disease-specific changes in their transcriptional profile. Increased frequency of airway macrophages and proliferating macrophages was associated with more extensive disease at baseline quantified by the composite physiological index and radiological severity of traction bronchiectasis. Monocyte-derived macrophages were significantly enriched at baseline in IPF patients who had disease progression at 12 months. Using CellChat we exposed differences in cell-cell communication between airway epithelial cells, airway macrophages and T cells in IPF. We identified dysregulation in signalling pathways such as SEMA3, ANXA1 and DESMOSOME which modulate airway epithelial-macrophage interactions, potentially driving disease pathology.ConclusionsAirway epithelial cells and macrophages may play a key role in orchestrating the early immunopathology of IPF, and these data support further exploration of novel, airway-focused therapeutic targets in IPF.

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    Richard Hewitt drrjhewitt.bsky.social · Nov 21, 2025
    Delighted to share our latest study published in ERJ Open Research. publications.ersnet.org/content/erjo... This research provides novel insight into early epithelial and immune aberrations in the airway in IPF and underscores the potential for airway-focused therapeutic approaches in the future.

    https://publications.ersnet.org/content/erjor/early/2025/11/07/2312054101273-2025

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  Richard Hewitt drrjhewitt.bsky.social · Nov 23, 2025
  publications.ersnet.org/content/erjo...

  Single-Cell RNA-seq Reveals Aberrant Airway Epithelial-Immune Cell Crosstalk In Pulmonary Fibrosis

  BackgroundEpithelial-immune cell interactions are crucial in the regulation of pulmonary immune responses. Emerging evidence suggests that cell populations lining the airways may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a disease characterised by progressive scarring of the lung parenchyma. We profiled the cellular landscape of the airway mucosal niche in incident cases of IPF to understand early-stage events contributing to disease development.MethodsSingle-cell RNA-sequencing was used to explore cellular heterogeneity in proximal airway brushings from seven healthy controls and nine patients with newly diagnosed IPF. In-depth bioinformatics analysis was used to interrogate changes in cell populations and cell-cell communication in IPF patients compared to controls.ResultsWe show a relative increase in the abundance of airway macrophage subsets in IPF compared to healthy controls, and disease-specific changes in their transcriptional profile. Increased frequency of airway macrophages and proliferating macrophages was associated with more extensive disease at baseline quantified by the composite physiological index and radiological severity of traction bronchiectasis. Monocyte-derived macrophages were significantly enriched at baseline in IPF patients who had disease progression at 12 months. Using CellChat we exposed differences in cell-cell communication between airway epithelial cells, airway macrophages and T cells in IPF. We identified dysregulation in signalling pathways such as SEMA3, ANXA1 and DESMOSOME which modulate airway epithelial-macrophage interactions, potentially driving disease pathology.ConclusionsAirway epithelial cells and macrophages may play a key role in orchestrating the early immunopathology of IPF, and these data support further exploration of novel, airway-focused therapeutic targets in IPF.

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  Richard Hewitt drrjhewitt.bsky.social · Nov 21, 2025
  Delighted to share our latest study published in ERJ Open Research. publications.ersnet.org/content/erjo... This research provides novel insight into early epithelial and immune aberrations in the airway in IPF and underscores the potential for airway-focused therapeutic approaches in the future.

  https://publications.ersnet.org/content/erjor/early/2025/11/07/2312054101273-2025

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  Richard Hewitt drrjhewitt.bsky.social · Aug 5, 2025
  Last 2 days to apply for this exciting postdoc position investigating early lung fibrosis at @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social - please do consider!
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    Richard Hewitt drrjhewitt.bsky.social · Jul 24, 2025
    New postdoc position in my lab investigating interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) and mechanisms driving early lung fibrosis @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social @rbandh.bsky.social @gstt-nhs.bsky.social @crick.ac.uk Closing date 7th August. Please do consider applying! my.corehr.com/pls/coreport...

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  Richard Hewitt drrjhewitt.bsky.social · Jul 24, 2025
  New postdoc position in my lab investigating interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) and mechanisms driving early lung fibrosis @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social @rbandh.bsky.social @gstt-nhs.bsky.social @crick.ac.uk Closing date 7th August. Please do consider applying! my.corehr.com/pls/coreport...

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  Richard Hewitt drrjhewitt.bsky.social · May 28, 2025
  Our Review just published in Thorax takes a fresh look at how ageing-associated cellular changes lead to epithelial dysfunction and vulnerability, priming the development of pulmonary fibrosis. @jennydickens41.bsky.social @lpearmain.bsky.social thorax.bmj.com/content/earl...
  

  Epithelial damage and ageing: the perfect storm

  Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease of lung parenchymal scarring that is triggered by repeated microinjury to a vulnerable alveolar epithelium. It is increasingly r...

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  Jenny Dickens jennydickens41.bsky.social · May 28, 2025
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  NEJM.org nejm.org · May 18, 2025
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  Richard Hewitt drrjhewitt.bsky.social · Feb 4, 2025
  New postdoc position investigating interstitial lung abnormalities (ILA) and mechanisms driving early lung fibrosis @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social @rbandh.bsky.social @gstt-nhs.bsky.social @crick.ac.uk Please do consider applying: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DLS668/p... Closing date 18th Feb.
  

  Postdoctoral Research Associate at King's College London

  An opportunity for an academic position as a Postdoctoral Research Associate is available, as advertised on jobs.ac.uk. Apply now and explore other academic job openings.

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  Laura Fabbri handle.invalid · Jan 17, 2025
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