Histamine regulation of neutrophil functions in asthmatics
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Do histamine and neutrophil histamine four receptor play a role in the development of resistant neutrophilic asthma?
IRAS ID
265526
Contact name
Karim Dib
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Asthma is a condition that affects the airways. There are different forms of asthma: mild and severe forms. Severe form of asthma is one of the most frequent causes of death in hospitalized patients. Death is caused by the destruction of airways by a specific type of immune cells called neutrophils. The normal role of neutrophils is to kill pathogens using a sophisticated range of weapons. But when neutrophils are abnormally elevated in the airways of asthmatics, these cells destroy lung tissues causing a decline in lung function. It is not known what drives this massive influx of neutrophils to the airways of asthmatics.
Our research project is aimed at investigating the role of a substance called histamine in the recruitment of neutrophils to the airways of asthmatics. We believe that histamine is produced in the airways of asthmatics. Histamine by acting on neutrophils via a receptor (called the histamine four receptor or H4R) may block the ability of neutrophils to kill airways pathogens. This reduced ability of neutrophils to kill airways pathogens may be responsible for the massive recruitment of neutrophils which is required to compensate for the lack of efficacy of airways neutrophils.
We will recruit severe asthmatics for this study. These individuals will provide blood and sputum samples. Sample collection will be carried out at the asthma clinic at the Belfast City Hospital. We will investigate whether:
1- Histamine and neutrophil H4R levels in sputum and blood samples correlate with asthma progression, airways infection and lung function.
2- Impaired ability of blood neutrophils to kill bacteria is associated with disease progression.
Our study will reveal whether histamine and neutrophil H4R play a role in the development of severe forms of asthma.REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
19/NI/0211
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion