Influence of gut microbes on the immune system - version 01
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Innate lymphoid cells; promoting immune homeostasis and preventing gut dysbiosis
IRAS ID
193649
Contact name
Sophie Hambleton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
I propose to study a group of children with rare genetic disorders of the immune system where the only cure is haematopoietic stem-cell transplant. A serious complication of this is graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in which the transplanted immune cells attack the host’s organs, particularly the bowel.
I will recruit 50 PID subjects prior to stem-cell transplant therapy. These subjects will be followed longitudinally for 1 year providing up to 25 blood and stool samples for analysis. From these subjects I will compare those who develop GVHD complications to those who have a smooth transplant course.
In these subjects I will examine a small proportion of white blood cells called Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), which are known to be important in protecting barrier surfaces including the gut from bacterial invasion.
My key goals are to identify whether ILCs also have a role in mediating signals between bacteria in the gut and other immune cells.
I will determine whether ILCs differ in their characteristics between children who experience a complicated or a smooth transplant course. I will correlate the levels of “good” and “bad” bacteria in the gut during transplant with the behaviour of the transplanted immune cells and I will explore whether signals from bacteria can teach ILCs to behave differently towards other immune cells.
Through this work I hope to identify how ILCs can be manipulated to treat or prevent human inflammatory diseases.
REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NE/0248
Date of REC Opinion
2 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion