Analysis of neural progenitor cells in premature infant CSF (v1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Analysis of neural progenitor cells in premature infant cerebrospinal fluid
IRAS ID
178943
Contact name
Axel Heep
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Innovation, North Bristol NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Background:
Bleeding into the brain followed by progressive enlargement of the fluid space (ventricles) is one of the most serious complications of preterm birth. Described as intraventricular haemorrhage, this affects approximately one in five infants born under 32 weeks gestation, however there are currently no active therapies we can offer.40% of premature infants who develop severe intraventricular haemorrhage will progress to have problems with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) resorption leading to post-haemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD). This requires repeated external drainage of CSF via a reservoir inserted into the lateral ventricles. Currently this CSF is discarded. Previous research has demonstrated that this CSF contains significant numbers of neural progenitor cells.
Neural progenitor cells isolated at this stage of development provide a unique opportunity to augment the endogenous repair mechanisms in these preterm infants and for treatment of diverse neurodegenerative diseases.
Aims:
The aim of this project is to isolate and further characterise neural progenitor cells from the CSF of premature infants (24-35 weeks gestation) undergoing drainage for PHVD.Project:
Within this initial study we would aim to: analyse the CSF of 5-10 infants; isolate, quantify and characterise neural progenitor cells from the CSF by immunocytochemistry for stem cell markers; expand and differentiate these cells in vitro to investigate their cell fate (e.g. neurons, glia or oligodendrocytes) using immunohistochemical methods and quantitative PCR for specific genes.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/YH/0251
Date of REC Opinion
22 May 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion