Anti-inflammatory agent assays
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assays for the development of anti-inflammatory therapeutics
IRAS ID
240877
Contact name
Shoumo Bhattacharya
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Inflammation, caused by white blood cells, results in diseases such as myocarditis and atherosclerosis, and also results in damage to heart muscle following a heart attack. Injured tissues release proteins called chemokines, which attract white cells, causing them to migrate into the injured tissue and cause inflammation. Controlling excessive inflammation can help treat these diseases. We have identified several new anti-chemokine agents from tick saliva, and these could be developed into anti-inflammatory treatments for heart disease and other diseases that are caused by inflammation. The key question is how potent or effective are these agents in blocking chemokine function? We need this information before proceeding with studies in animals or in patients. To address this, we will use white cells obtained from the healthy volunteer blood samples, or from blood or blood products obtained from the NHSBT (NHS Blood and Transplant) Services. In lab assays, chemokines activate the white cells, which then migrate towards the chemokine. We will measure the ability of the new anti-chemokine agents in blocking chemokine induced activation and migration of white cells in such lab based experiments.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/YH/0144
Date of REC Opinion
16 Apr 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion