A20/DREAM ratio in childhood asthma

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A20/DREAM ratio as a biomarker to predict true severe therapy resistant asthma in children

• IRAS ID

  259591

• Contact name

  Bettina C Schock

• Contact email

  b.schock@qub.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Queen's University Belfast, Research Governance, Ethics & Integrity

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 7 months, 28 days

• Research summary

  We have developed a model of the airway lining cells (from samples obtained from children) that is very suitable for research studies (ORECNI Ref: 14/NI/0056; 07/NIR02/115 and 07/NIR02/141). This models mimics the lining of the airway.
  The airway lining cells of the breathing tubes (bronchi and nasal passages) are the first contact with the external environment and control how the body reacts to viruses, bacteria and breathed in particles. We have identified two key molecules (called A20 and DREAM) within the airway lining cells (epithelial cells) which are important for controlling or dampening inflammation.
  A small number of children with true severe therapy resistant asthma will not respond to high doses of inhaled corticosteroids. If these children were identified early, they could be treated with specific biologic therapy such as anti-IgE or anti-IL5 therapies (which are very expensive) rather than given extremely high doses of steroids.
  We suspect that the ratio of molecules A20 to DREAM may be altered in children who are resistant to high doses inhaled corticosteroids. Obtaining and culturing nasal airway cells is difficult and time intensive – it might be possible and much simpler to study the A20/DREAM ratio from cells obtained from the lining of the cheek (buccal mucosa)
  In this research project we will obtain nasal and buccal mucosa swab/brush samples from children (5-16 years) attending the N Ireland Regional Difficult to Treat Asthma Clinic in order to study the A20/DREAM ratio. Our airway epithelial cell model will be used.
  In this pilot study we wish firstly to determine whether the A20/DREAM ratio is abnormal in children with severe therapy resistant asthma and, secondly, to determine whether the buccal mucosal cells could be used to measure the A20/DREAM ratio.

• REC name

  London - Central Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  19/LO/1000

• Date of REC Opinion

  13 Sep 2019

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion