Mast cells in psoriasis: a therapeutic target?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mast cells in psoriasis: a therapeutic target?
IRAS ID
223387
Contact name
Silvia Bulfone-Paus
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Mast cells are immune cells found in the skin which, when activated, drive inflammatory processes such as those seen in psoriasis. In biopsies taken from the plaques of psoriasis patients we have seen increases in the number of mast cells and their activation compared to similar biopsies from unaffected individuals. Our preliminary results suggest that mast cells change position in psoriasis plaques, moving from blood vessels and re-locating to be closer to nerves and other immune cells. We also see that mast cells produce signals that attract other cells into psoriasis plaques to worsen the inflammation. Therefore, our research will investigate whether mast cells contribute to the development of psoriasis by communicating with and attracting other inflammatory cells to the skin plaques that are characteristic of psoriasis. The objective of our project is to investigate how skin mast cell functions change during plaque development and also how these functions are affected by systemic treatments that lead to the improvement of plaques. By identifying alterations in mast cell functions we hope to be able to develop new treatments for psoriasis
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0328
Date of REC Opinion
9 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion