Lipidome of photosensitivity V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the cutaneous lipidome to understand the molecular basis of photosensitivity disorders
IRAS ID
263347
Contact name
Lesley Rhodes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 28 days
Research summary
Photosensitivity is an inflammatory skin condition characterised by an abnormal sensitivity to small amounts of light. Certain drugs can make people sensitive to sunlight, which is called drug-induced photosensitivity (DIP). The symptoms of photosensitivity include swelling, redness and exaggerated sunburn. The phototoxic drugs include hypertensive drugs, cardiovascular drugs and antibiotics. Psoralen taken for PUVA light therapy (Psoralen + Ultraviolet A, UVA) to treat certain skin conditions is also a photosensitizer drug. Therefore, patients receiving PUVA therapy are advised to take photoprotective measures to prevent photosensitivity. The exact mechanisms underlying systemic drug sensitisation is not understood. Therefore, there are no effective treatments. Patients mainly manage symptoms via photoprotection, including avoidance of sunlight, sunscreens and protective clothing.
This study will focus on the role of skin lipids in systemic drug photosensitization. Skin lipids are cellular biomolecules that maintain the structure and function of human skin. Skin lipids are also involved in sunburn reaction. We hypothesise that alteration in skin lipids or their bioactive products contributes to the mechanisms of phototoxic skin responses caused by systemic drugs.
This study will explore the involvement of skin lipids in patients diagnosed with systemic DIP and patients receiving oral PUVA therapy. We will compare the lipid content of skin and blood from patients to that of healthy non-photosensitive volunteers following UVR exposure to identify the type and relative abundance of lipids involved in the reactions triggered by UVR. Lipid changes and drugs and/or their metabolites in the skin will be localised using mass spectrometry imaging. Changes in proteins related to lipid metabolism in the skin of patients and controls will also be studied. Findings will improve our understanding of phototoxic skin reactions caused by systemic drugs and may provide new therapeutic targets for human skin prone to inflammation.
The project is funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and will take place at the University of Manchester. Patients will be recruited from The Photobiology Unit at Salford NHS Foundation Trust. The skin imaging analysis will take place at out industrial collaborator’s laboratories, Waters Corporation Wilmslow.REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SW/0004
Date of REC Opinion
28 Jan 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion