Inflammatory resolution in men and women: RESOLVE-SEX

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Investigation of the distinct mechanisms involved in inflammatory resolution between healthy men and women: RESOLVE-SEX

  • IRAS ID

    318684

  • Contact name

    Amrita Ahluwalia

  • Contact email

    a.ahluwalia@qmul.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Queen Mary, University of London

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 11 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    Inflammation is a key initiating and damaging factor in many illnesses including infection, arthritis and cancer but also of particular relevance to this application in diseases of the heart and blood vessels (i.e. cardiovascular disease). Much evidence now exists demonstrating that male sex increases risk of cardiovascular disease. There is some evidence that has suggested that at least part of this reduced susceptibility in women relates to attenuated inflammation of the heart and blood vessels. However, our recent investigations in healthy volunteers have shown that rather than dampening the response to an inflammatory stressor women show an enhanced clearance of the inflammation. A key process of inflammatory responses is that once triggered and once the stimulus has been dealt with that the body activates a process of repair and recovery. Recent evidence suggests that chronic inflammation may be caused by a failure of this recovery stage called resolution. Importantly our recent studies on healthy volunteers have suggested that women show a faster recovery from an inflammatory stressor than age-matched men. Thus, we wish to examine the molecular pathways involved in this difference in resolution between men and women using an established model of sterile inflammation: the cantharidin-induced blister model.

    By studying the fluid contents of a blister, we can study the inflammatory process. We aim to study the fluid contents of the blisters at three different time-points following induction of inflammation. This study requires five visits in total, two of which are virtual, and the production of three small blisters in total over 4 days.

    The study is being undertaken at Queen Mary University London within the William Harvey Heart Centre Clinical Research Facility and the Centre of Cardiovascular Medicines & Devices in Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ.

  • REC name

    Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    22/YH/0244

  • Date of REC Opinion

    17 Oct 2022

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion