Investigation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Pilot Study for harnessing a highly-defined population of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to promote repair and reperfusion of ischaemic retina in order to reduce hypoxia and subsequent sight-threatening pathology
IRAS ID
135802
Contact name
Victor Chong
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Clinical Trials and Research Governance (CTRG)
Research summary
Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) represent a small number of immature cells circulating in blood. They play a major role in healing of blood vessels. This is because they help to stabilise the blood system by helping to supply blood to areas where the blood supply has stopped e.g. after a heart attack or a vein occlusion. There is enormous clinical potential for “vascular stem cell therapy” to promote repair of the blood supply in diseases such as these. This study aims to answer are:
What is the most appropriate EPC for vascular repair in the retina? Can a highly defined population of EPCs be made to promote repair and reperfusion of retina where the blood supply has been affected in order to reduce the damage from absence of oxygen and subsequent prevent sight-threatening disease?
The experiments will investigate approaches to isolate and expand the specific cells from the blood collected, and improve the EPC reparative potential for blood vessels and ultimately, establish an effective new treatment for patients.
The study design will involve collecting 40mls of blood from patients attending the Oxford eye Hospital who suffer from retina vein occlusion. Patients will donate a one off blood sample, after the study has been explained and consent gained. All blood will be couried to Belfast to be analysed. The blood will be anonomysed and patients will not be identifiable from their blood. 20mls of blood will be overlaid on top of Histopaque 1077 (Sigma) using a sterile pasteur pipette. Tubes will be then centrifuged. The mononuclear cell layer will be transferred and centrifuged at 150G for 10 minutes to obtain a cell pellet. Any supernatant, plasma or washings to be discarded.
The research is funded by Belfast from the MRC, Fight for Sight and the Jules Thorn Charitable Trust fund.REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0761
Date of REC Opinion
21 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion