CHHIP (Cellular humoral and hormonal control of immunity in pregnancy)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding the role of cellular, humoral and hormonal factors in the control of immunity in healthy human pregnancy, and pregnancies complicatated by malplacentation disorders
IRAS ID
155401
Contact name
Arri Coomarasamy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
06/Q2707/12, NHS REC ; BCHRF298 , Funder's Reference Number (13/WM/0178)
Duration of Study in the UK
10 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Pregnancy is a unique event during which the semi-allogenic ‘foreign’ fetus (i.e. the fetus expresses genetic material from both the father and mother) avoids rejection by the maternal host. It is now understood that the maternal immune system, aided by endocrine ‘hormone’ pathways, generates a unique, complex immune response in the placenta (afterbirth) in order to protect the fetus and ensure normal development and programming. Importantly, for those pregnancies complicated by adverse outcomes such as spontaneous miscarriage, intra-uterine growth restriction (impaired fetal growth and development), and pre-eclampsia, these immune and endocrine adaptations become impaired.
Studies performed previously by our group have already advanced our understanding of the biological function and potential immune-modulatory actions of hormones in the placenta including vitamin D and thyroid hormone. This has been complemented by studies examining the different immune cell populations in both normal healthy placentas and those ‘high risk’ pregnancies complicated by adverse outcomes. However, our knowledge regarding the exact biological link between steroid hormones, growth factors and immune cells specifically in the placenta during both normal pregnancy, and those complicated by adverse outcome remains limited.
We propose a programme of laboratory science to explore in detail the role of key steroid hormones, growth factors and immune responses in normal pregnancies and those complicated by adverse outcome. Importantly these studies may provide a functional mechanistic rationale for future hormone supplementation and immunotherapy trials in pregnant women.
REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/WM/1146
Date of REC Opinion
10 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion