Characterising lymphocyte Responses to Contact Allergens
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Development and Orchestration of T lymphocyte Responses to Contact Allergens (Phase II).
IRAS ID
134187
Contact name
Ian Kimber
Contact email
Research summary
Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is an inflammatory skin condition that can impact severely upon quality of life. Specialised white blood cells (T cells) are activated upon initial exposure of an individual to an allergen via the skin. T cells retain memory for the allergen and are thus able to trigger a more rapid and aggressive inflammatory response upon subsequent exposure to the same allergen. In general, the more often an individual with ACD is exposed to the same contact-allergen, the less of that allergen is required to trigger a reaction.
Alopecia areata and alopecia totalis are diseases affecting the immune system that result in partial or total hair loss, respectively. Diphenylcyclopropenone (DPC) is a potent contact-allergen that has been widely used in clinical practice to restore hair growth in patients with these conditions. The local skin inflammation caused by making these patients allergic to DPC is believed to re-stimulate hair follicle growth in up to 70% of patients (El-Zawahry et al., 2010, JEADV 24:264–269), thus providing therapeutic benefit.
Previous studies of the mechanism of ACD have been hindered by uncertainty regarding the identity and dosage of contact allergen exposure. Within the DPC therapy regimen, however, these factors are known and furthermore, the immune system will be completely 'naïve' to DPC prior to such treatment. Therefore not only is DPC treatment beneficial for the restoration of hair growth in these individuals but it also provides an opportunity to study the development of T cell responses to a contact-allergen.
Patients undergoing the DPC regimen and willing to participate in this study will be asked to provide a total of four blood samples and undergo tests for ACD known as patch tests. T cells will be isolated from the blood of these patients and their responses to DPC will be measured.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EE/1067
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion