BLYNI5; version 1.0

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Investigating pro-inflammatory B-lymphocyte responses in nasal polyps to interleukin-5

  • IRAS ID

    332970

  • Contact name

    Louisa James

  • Contact email

    louisa.james@qmul.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Queen Mary University of London

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    5 years, 0 months, 0 days

  • Research summary

    Blockade of the inflammatory chemical messenger, Interleukin-5 (IL-5), has clinical benefits in many patients with nasal polyps, asthma and other similar diseases. Blockade of IL-5 is thought to provide clinical benefit through suppression of eosinophils, however, other eosinophil suppressing medications can be less effective. Antibody producing B lymphocytes also respond to IL-5 and potentially the action of / blockade of IL-5 on B lymphocytes in the airways is more important than previously appreciated. In this study we aim to examine the effects of IL-5 and IL-5 blockade on the repertoire of antibodies produced by B lymphocytes in the nose.
    Residual nasal samples from patients undergoing clinically-indicated nasal surgery will be collected after informed consent, with linked clinical information, and analysed to determine the antibody repertoire produced by the nasal B lymphocytes using single-cell RNA sequencing. We will use a novel technique to identify which of the B lymphocytes express the cell surface receptor for IL-5, and compare repertoires between patients with different diseases and between those on and not on anti-IL-5 biologic treatments. Additionally cell culture experiments will be conducted with nasal tissue in vitro to investigate how IL-5 affects nasal antibody responses.

  • REC name

    London - City & East Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    24/PR/0073

  • Date of REC Opinion

    6 Feb 2024

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion