![Image of Dr Darren Sexton](/-/media/ljmu/staff-profiles/pbs/pbsdsext.jpg?w=350&285&crop=1&hash=02C975BC2DCD7BE3C3AA1C5720FCB5C9)
Dr Darren Sexton
Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences
Faculty of Science
Email: D.W.Sexton@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 231 2359
Degrees
2007, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom, PG Cert in Higher Education Practice
2001, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom, PhD
1997, University of Ulster, United Kingdom, MSc Biomedicine (Distinction)
1996, Dublin City University, Ireland, BSc Biotechnology
Academic appointments
Lecturer in Immunology, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, 2005 - 2014
Journal article
Cushnie TPT, Luang-In V, Sexton DW. 2024. Necrophages and necrophiles: a review of their antibacterial defenses and biotechnological potential. Crit Rev Biotechnol, :1-18 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Osman N, Curley P, Box H, Liptrott N, Sexton DW, Saleem I. 2024. In vitro evaluation of physicochemical-dependent effects of polymeric nanoparticles on their cellular uptake and co-localization using pulmonary calu-3 cell lines Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, :1-11 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ajayi BE, Oboh B, Minari JB, Sexton DW, Sarker SD, Fatokun AA. 2023. Cola rostrata K. Schum. constituents induce cytotoxicity through reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial membrane depolarisation Exploration of Targeted Anti-tumor Therapy, 4 :1328-1344 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Nolan A, Heaton RA, Adamova P, Cole P, Turton N, Gillham SH, Owens DJ, Sexton DW. 2023. Fluorescent characterization of differentiated myotubes using flow cytometry Cytometry Part A, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Wong KH, Sexton DW, Mosavi Jarrahi A, Hasson SS. 2022. A Preliminary Investigation on the Possibility of Developing a Cancer Vaccine Using Snake Venom Components Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Biology, 7 :323-339 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Islam Y, Ehtezazi P, Cashmore A, Marinsalda E, Leach AG, Coxon CR, Fatokun AA, Sexton DW, Khan I, Zouganelis GD, Downing J, Pluchino S, Sivakumaran M, Teixido M, Ehtezazi T. 2020. The Inclusion of a Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Responsive Sequence in Self-assembled Peptide-based Brain-Targeting Nanoparticles Improves the Efficiency of Nanoparticles Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier at Elevated MMP-9 Levels Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 110 :1349-1364 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Heaton R, Heales S, Rahman K, Sexton DW, Hargreaves IP. 2020. The Effect of Cellular Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency on Lysosomal Acidification Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Richardson A, Powell A, Sexton D, Parsons J, Reynolds N, Ross K. 2020. MicroRNA-184 Is Induced By Store-Operated Calcium Entry And Regulates Early Keratinocyte Differentiation Journal of Cellular Physiology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Osman NM, Sexton DW, Saleem IY. 2019. Toxicological assessment of nanoparticle interactions with the pulmonary system. Nanotoxicology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Bidula S, Sexton DW, Schelenz S. 2019. Ficolins and the Recognition of Pathogenic Microorganisms: An Overview of the Innate Immune Response and Contribution of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Journal of Immunology Research, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Dubourg A, Xia D, Winpenny JP, Naimi SA, Bouzid M, Sexton DW, Wastling JM, Hunter PR, Tyler KM. 2018. Giardia Secretome Highlights Secreted Tenascins as a Key Component of Pathogenesis. GigaScience, 7 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Richardson A, Muir L, Mousdell S, Sexton DW, Jones S, Howl J, Ross K. 2018. Modulation of mitochondrial activity in HaCaT keratinocytes by the cell penetrating peptide Z-Gly-RGD(DPhe)-mitoparan. BMC Research Notes, 11 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Hanson K, Robinson SR, Al-Yousuf K, Hendry AE, Sexton DW, Sherwood V, Wheeler GN. 2017. The anti-rheumatic drug, leflunomide, synergizes with MEK inhibition to suppress melanoma growth Oncotarget, 9 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Stepien KM, Heaton R, Rankin S, Murphy A, Bentley J, Sexton DW, Hargreaves IP. 2017. Evidence of Oxidative Stress and Secondary Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Metabolic and Non-Metabolic Disorders Journal of Clinical Medicine, 6 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Sexton DW, Wilson AM, Kotecha J, Shulgina L, Atkins CP. 2016. Plasma Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Concentration and Alveolar Nitric Oxide as Potential Predictors of Disease Progression and Mortality in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Barnes D. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Steverding D, Tyler KM, Sexton DW. 2016. Evaluation of marking of peer marking in oral presentation. Perspectives on medical education, 5 :103-107 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Wang W, He Y, Yu G, Li B, Sexton DW, Wileman T, Roberts AA, Hamilton CJ, Liu R, Chao Y, Shan Y, Bao Y. 2015. Sulforaphane Protects the Liver against CdSe Quantum Dot-Induced Cytotoxicity. PLoS One, 10 :1-17 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Bidula S, Sexton DW, Schelenz S. 2015. Serum opsonin ficolin-A enhances host-fungal interactions and modulates cytokine expression from human monocyte-derived macrophages and neutrophils following Aspergillus fumigatus challenge. Medical Microbiology Immunology, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Bidula S, Sexton DW, Yates M, Abdolrasouli A, Shah A, Wallis R, Reed A, Armstrong-James D, Schelenz S. 2015. H-ficolin binds Aspergillus fumigatus leading to activation of the lectin complement pathway and modulation of lung epithelial immune responses. Immunology, 146 :281-291 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Jacques RO, Mills SC, Cazzonatto Zerwes P, Fagade FO, Green JE, Downham S, Sexton DW, Mueller A. 2015. Dynamin function is important for chemokine receptor-induced cell migration. Cell Biochemistry and Function, 33 :407-414 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Ellis S, Sexton DW, Steverding D. 2015. Trypanotoxic activity of thiosemicarbazone iron chelators. Experimental Parasitology, 150 :7-12 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Bidula S, Sexton DW, Abdolrasouli A, Shah A, Reed A, Armstrong-James D, Schelenz S. 2015. The serum opsonin L-ficolin is detected in lungs of human transplant recipients following fungal infections and modulates inflammation and killing of Aspergillus fumigatus. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 212 :234-246 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Campwala H, Sexton DW, Crossman DC, Fountain SJ. 2014. P2Y₆ receptor inhibition perturbs CCL2-evoked signalling in human monocytic and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Journal of Cell Science, 127 :4964-4973 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Brockwell C, Ampikaipakan S, Sexton DW, Price D, Freeman D, Thomas M, Ali M, Wilson AM. 2014. Adjunctive treatment with oral AKL1, a botanical nutraceutical, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 9 :715-721 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Sexton DW. 2013. Eosinophil apoptosis and fate :257-284
Prussin C, Scott GD, Fryer AD, Schroeder S, Masterson JC, Fillon S, Furuta GT, Akuthota P, Xenakis JJ, Wang H, Weller PF, Jacobsen EA, Teplinsky A, Elishmereni M, Katz HR, Levi-Schaffer F, Chu VT, Berek C, Sexton DW, Walsh GM, (Wole) Odemuyiwa SO, Tulic MK, Cravetchi VO, Lee JJ, Moqbel R. 2013. Eosinophil Cell-Cell Communication :329-390 DOI Publisher Url
Wills QF, Livak KJ, Tipping AJ, Enver T, Goldson AJ, Sexton DW, Holmes C. 2013. Single-cell gene expression analysis reveals genetic associations masked in whole-tissue experiments NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY, 31 :748-+ DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Bidula S, Kenawy H, Ali YM, Sexton D, Schwaeble WJ, Schelenz S. 2013. Role of Ficolin-A and Lectin Complement Pathway in the Innate Defense against Pathogenic Aspergillus Species INFECTION AND IMMUNITY, 81 :1730-1740 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Schelenz S, Kirchhof N, Bidula S, Wallis R, Sexton DW. 2013. Opsonizing properties of rat ficolin-A in the defence against Cryptococcus neoformans. Immunobiology, 218 :477-483 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Kerr JS, Jacques RO, Cardaba CM, Tse T, Sexton D, Mueller A. 2013. Differential regulation of chemotaxis: Role of G beta gamma in chemokine receptor-induced cell migration CELLULAR SIGNALLING, 25 :729-735 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Steverding D, Sexton DW. 2013. Trypanocidal activity of salinomycin is due to sodium influx followed by cell swelling. Parasit Vectors, 6 :1-5 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Phillips EA, Sexton DW, Steverding D. 2013. Bitter melon extract inhibits proliferation of Trypanosoma brucei bloodstream forms in vitro EXPERIMENTAL PARASITOLOGY, 133 :353-356 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Livak KJ, Wills QF, Tipping AJ, Datta K, Mittal R, Goldson AJ, Sexton DW, Holmes CC. 2013. Methods for qPCR gene expression profiling applied to 1440 lymphoblastoid single cells METHODS, 59 :71-79 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Steverding D, Sexton DW, Chrysochoidi N, Cao F. 2012. Trypanosoma brucei transferrin receptor can bind C-lobe and N-lobe fragments of transferrin MOLECULAR AND BIOCHEMICAL PARASITOLOGY, 185 :99-105 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Steverding D, Sexton DW, Wang X, Gehrke SS, Wagner GK, Caffrey CR. 2012. Trypanosoma brucei: Chemical evidence that cathepsin L is essential for survival and a relevant drug target INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY, 42 :481-488 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Greatorex JS, Page RF, Curran MD, Digard P, Enstone JE, Wreghitt T, Powell PP, Sexton DW, Vivancos R, Nguyen-Van-Tam JS. 2010. Effectiveness of common household cleaning agents in reducing the viability of human influenza A/H1N1. PLoS One, 5 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Winpenny JP, Marsey LL, Sexton DW. 2009. The CLCA gene family: Putative therapeutic target for respiratory diseases Inflammation and Allergy - Drug Targets, 8 :146-160 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Steverding D, Wang X, Sexton DW. 2009. The trypanocidal effect of NO-releasing agents is not due to inhibition of the major cysteine proteinase in Trypanosoma brucei PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH, 105 :1333-1338 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Walsh GM, Al-Rabia M, Blaylock MG, Sexton DW, Duncan CJA, Lawrie A. 2005. Control of eosinophil toxicity in the lung Current Drug Targets: Inflammation and Allergy, 4 :481-486 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Sexton DW, Walsh GM. 2005. Airway inflammation resolution CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, 35 :838-840 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Sexton DW, Al-Rabia M, Blaylock MG, Walsh GM. 2004. Phagocytosis of apoptotic eosinophils but not neutrophils by bronchial epithelial cells CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, 34 :1514-1524 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Al-Rabia MW, Blaylock MG, Sexton DW, Walsh GM. 2004. Membrane receptor-mediated apoptosis and caspase activation in the differentiated EoL-1 eosinophilic cell line JOURNAL OF LEUKOCYTE BIOLOGY, 75 :1045-1055 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Walsh GM, Sexton DW, Blaylock MG. 2003. Corticosteroids, eosinophils and bronchial epithelial cells: new insights into the resolution of inflammation in asthma JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGY, 178 :37-43 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Al-Rabia MW, Blaylock MG, Sexton DW, Thomson L, Walsh GM. 2003. Granule protein changes and membrane receptor phenotype in maturing human eosinophils cultured from CD34(+) progenitors CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, 33 :640-648 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Thomson L, Blaylock MG, Sexton DW, Campbell A, Walsh GM. 2002. Cetirizine and levocetirizine inhibit eotaxin-induced eosinophil transendothelial migration through human dermal or lung microvascular endothelial cells CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, 32 :1187-1192 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Sexton DW, Blaylock MG, Walsh GM. 2001. Human alveolar epithelial cells engulf apoptotic eosinophils by means of integrin- and phosphatidylserine receptor-dependent mechanisms: A process upregulated by dexamethasone JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY, 108 :962-969 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Blaylock MG, Sexton DW, Walsh GM. 1999. Ligation of CD45 and the isoforms CD45RA and CD45RB accelerates the rate of constitutive apoptosis in human eosinophils JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY, 104 :1244-1250 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Walsh GM, Sexton DW, Blaylock MG, Convery CM. 1999. Resting and cytokine-stimulated human small airway epithelial cells recognize and engulf apoptotic eosinophils BLOOD, 94 :2827-2835 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Walsh GM, Sexton D, Blaylock M. 1999. Ligation of CD45 and CD45RA & RB induces apoptosis in human eosinophils. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, 159 :A33-A33 Author Url
Wong KH, Sexton DW, Jarrahi AM, Hasson SS. A Preliminary Investigation on the Possibility of Developing a Cancer Vaccine Using Snake Venom Components Asia Pacific Journal of Cancer Biology, 7 :323-339 DOI
Conference publication
Osman N, Sexton D, Saleem I. 2021. CHALLENGING THE CHALLENGES OF NANOPARTICLE TESTING USING IN VITRO METHODS JOURNAL OF AEROSOL MEDICINE AND PULMONARY DRUG DELIVERY, 34 :A21-A21 Author Url
Osman N, Sexton D, Hutcheon G, Saleem I. 2017. COMPARATIVE NANOTOXICOLOGY OF POLYMERIC NANOCARRIERS WITH DIFFERENT SURFACE CHARGE AGAINST HUMAN LUNG EPITHELIAL CELLS JOURNAL OF AEROSOL MEDICINE AND PULMONARY DRUG DELIVERY, 30 :A17-A18 Author Url
Richardson A, Sexton D, Powell AK, Ross K. 2017. Defining the Role of Argonautes in Human Epidermal Keratinocytes British Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting 176 :e71-e71
Kaneko K, Miyaji E, Goncalves V, Ferreira D, Solorzano-Gonzalez C, MacLoughlin R, Sexton D, Saleem I. Evaluation of PLGA polymers for nanoparticle immunogenicity
Islam Y, Leach A, Downing J, Fatokun A, Sexton D, Coxon CR, Zouganelis G, Pluchino S, Sivakumran M, Teixido M, Ehtezazi T. MMP-9-responsive self-assembled nanocarriers for brain drug delivery Keele Nanoparticle Conference
Poster
Islam Y, Leach A, Downing J, Fatokun AA, Sexton D, Coxon CR, Zouganelis G, Pluchino S, Sivakumran M, Teixido M, Ehtezazi T. 2019. MMP-9-responsive self-assembled nanocarriers for brain drug delivery Keele Nanoparticle Conference, Keele University, UK. 5 July, 2019.
Richardson A, Sexton D, Powell AK, Ross K. 2017. A store-operated calcium entry-dependent regulatory loop between nuclear factor of activated T-cells 1 and miR-184 in keratinocytes Non-Coding RNA: Recent Insights into the Mechanism of Action, Biochemical Society Conference, Edinburgh, UK.
Richardson A, Sexton D, Powell AK, Ross K. 2016. Argonaute Expression in Psoriasis and Epidermal Keratinocytes. Inflammatory diseases - mechanisms and clinical perspectives, Maynooth University, Ireland. A Biochemical Society Focused Meeting.
Other
Hanson K, Robinson SD, Al-Yousuf K, Hendry AE, Sexton DW, Sherwood V, Wheeler GN. 2018. Correction: The anti-rheumatic drug, lefunomide, synergizes with MEK inhibition to suppress melanoma growth (Oncotarget (2018) 9 (3815-3829) DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.26415) Oncotarget, 9 :36645-36645 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
preprint
Richardson A, Powell A, Sexton DW, Parsons JL, Reynolds NJ, Ross K. 2018. Microrna-184 is Induced by Store-Operated Calcium Entry and Regulates Early Keratinocyte Differentiation Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DOI Publisher Url
Chapters
Sexton DW. 2012. Eosinophil apoptosis and fate Eosinophils: Structure, Biological Properties and Role in Disease :257-284
Sexton D. 2012. Eosinophil-Epithelial cell interactions Eosinophils in Health and Disease Academic Press 9780123943859
Prussin C, Scott GD, Fryer AD, Schroeder S, Masterson JC, Fillon S, Furuta GT, Akuthota P, Xenakis JJ, Wang H, Weller PF, Jacobsen EA, Teplinsky A, Elishmereni M, Katz HR, Levi-Schaffer F, Chu VT, Berek C, Sexton DW, Walsh GM, Wole Odemuyiwa SO, Tulic MK, Cravetchi VO, Lee JJ, Moqbel R. 2012. Eosinophil Cell–Cell Communication Eosinophils in Health and Disease :329-390 DOI
Editorial/letter to the editor
Sexton DW. 2008. Targeting airway inflammation: PMX464 and the epithelial bulls eye BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, 155 :620-622 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Sexton DW, Walsh GM. 2002. Eosinophil-epithelial cell interactions: an important facet of asthmatic inflammation CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, 32 :811-813 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Membership of professional bodies:
Member of the Europe wide FOSTER Consortium, FOSTER Group (Fighting OSteosarcoma Through European Research), https://fosterconsortium.org/. 2022
Member of International Eosinophil Society, International Eosinophil Society, http://www.eosinophil-society.org/about-ies/mission-statement. 2011
Member of the British Society for Immunology, British Society for Immunology, https://www.immunology.org/. 2007
Member of European Respiratory Society, European Respiratory Society, http://www.ersnet.org/. 2005
External PGR examinations performed:
Anglia Ruskin University, PhD, Differential expression of long and short isoforms of tissue transglutaminase 2; Implications for cisplatin resistance in an in-vitro MCF-7 breast cancer model. 2020
Anglia Ruskin University, PhD, Investigation of the effects of phytochemical induced changes in TG2 activity of three cell line models of cancer chemotherapy. 2017
University of Cambridge, PhD, Cellular Responses to synthetic intestinal calcium phosphate nanoparticles containing bacterial cargo. 2015
University of Messina, Italy, PhD, Chemopreventive effect of Sulforaphane on a bladder cancer cell line. 2015
University of East Anglia, PhD, Immune System Involvement in Metal Hip Implant Failure. 2015
University of East Anglia, PhD, The vascular and anti-inflammatory activity of cyanidin-3-glucoside and its metabolites in human vascular endothelial cells. 2014
Editorial boards:
Journal of Cell Death, Editorial Board, http://www.la-press.com/journal.php?pa=editorial_board&journal_id=124. 2010
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery, Editorial Board, http://test.benthamscience.com/journal/editorial-board.php?journalID=rpiad. 2010