麻豆传媒

Research Interests

Hepatocytes are the primary cell of the liver, performing the majority of its unique functions, including the metabolism and clearance of xenobiotics. My work is focused on hepatotoxic effects resulting from the exposure to these drugs and chemicals. Using freshly isolated human hepatocytes I investigate the mechanisms of toxicity of drugs and chemicals as well as their cellular uptake and metabolism.

Current research

Investigating the hepatotoxic effects of an environmental xenobiotic.

We recently identified a xenobiotic in the local environment that has the potential to trigger primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). This xenobiotic, 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium (C8mim; M8OI), is an ionic liquid that we have shown to be both toxic to liver progenitor cells and to be metabolised by human hepatocytes to a metabolite capable of incorporation into an antigen targeted by PBC patient auto-antibodies.

• In vitro and in vivo assessment of the toxicity of M8OI   
• Determining the mechanism of toxicity 
• Route of uptake and metabolism by human hepatocytes
• Xenoestrogenic effects 

• Leitch AC, Abdelghany TM, Probert PM, Dunn MP, Meyer SK, Palmer JM, Cooke MP, Blake LI, Morse K, Rosenmai AK, Oskarsson A, Bates L, Figueiredo RS, Ibrahim I, Wilson C, Abdelkader NF, Jones DE, Blain PG, Wright MC. . Food and Chemical Toxicology 2020, 136, 111069.
• Alsaeedi F, Wilson R, Candlish C, Ibrahim I, Leitch AC, Abdelghany TM, Wilson C, Armstrong L, Wright MC. . PloS One 2019, 14(6), e0218135.
• Fairhall EA, Leitch AC, Lakey AF, Probert PM, Richardson G, DeSantis C, Wright MC. . Differentiation 2018, 102, 10-18.
• Fairhall EA, Leitch AC, Lakey AF, Abdelghany TM, Ibrahim I, Tosh D, Kass GE, Wilson C, Wright MC. . Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 2018, 503(3), 1633-1640.
• Probert PM, Leitch AC, Dunn MP, Meyer SK, Palmer JM, Abdelghany TM, Lakey AF, Cooke MP, Talbot H, Wills C, McFarlane W, Blake LI, Rosenmai AK, Oskarsson A, Figueiredo R, Wilson C, Kass GE, Jones DE, Blain PG, Wright MC. . Journal of Hepatology 2018, 69(5), 1123-1135.
• Leitch AC, Lakey AF, Hotham WE, Agius L, Kass GE, Blain PG, Wright MC. . Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 2018, 503(3), 2167-2178.
• Leitch AC, Probert PME, Shayman JA, Meyer SK, Kass GEN, Wright MC. . Toxicology 2017, 386, 120-132.
• Meyer SK, Probert PME, Lakey AK, Leitch A, Blake LI, Jowsey PA, Cooke MP, Blain PG, Wright MC. . Toxicological Sciences 2017, 156(1), 54-71.
• Meyer SK, Probert PME, Lakey AF, Axon AR, Leitch AC, Williams FM, Jowsey PA, Blain PG, Kass GEN, Wright MC. . Toxicology Letters 2017, 273, 55-68.