Exploring the Role of an ITIM-bearing inhibitory receptor in CD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the Role of an ITIM-bearing inhibitory receptor in Coeliac Disease
IRAS ID
300920
Contact name
David Sanders
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS FT
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Coeliac disease is a condition where the patient’s immune system attacks their own tissues in response to gluten. This produces symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and cramping which may lead to a reduced ability to absorb food, anaemia and long-term health problems. Once this response has occurred, the patient remains sensitive to gluten and must adopt a gluten free diet to control the symptoms of the disease (although this approach does not work in all cases). Re-exposure to gluten, even small amounts many years later, can rapidly produce a recurrence of symptoms.
This work aims to understand the nature of the immune response in coeliac disease in both the blood and intestines. In particular, it focuses on the role of certain immune cell receptors in the initial response to gluten and in maintaining the long-term gluten response. The information generated will then be used to help develop drugs that may repress or reverse the immune response to gluten, allowing patients to be exposed to gluten without a recurrence of symptoms.
UCB is investigating the role of an ITIM-bearing inhibitory receptor in autoimmune disease. This receptor is expressed by all myeloid cells and B cells and a subset of T cells and NK cells; interaction of this receptor and its ligand has been reported to lead to multiple inhibitory functions. This study aims to use an agonistic antibody targeting this receptor to restore tolerance. Phenome Wide Association Studies (PheWAS) analysis of the pathway shows a highly significant association of the inhibitory receptor to coeliac disease, with this being the focus for translation to the clinical setting.
This study will seek to assess the presence and function of this target in coeliac disease and therapeutic potential of agonism of this novel inhibitory pathway in the pathogenesis of coeliac disease.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/PR/0784
Date of REC Opinion
23 Aug 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion