Muscle and Fat Cross Talk
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Skeletal Muscle and Adipose Cross Talk: Identifying novel mediators of inflammation and cellular metabolism.
IRAS ID
206880
Contact name
Simon W Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Lay title: The role of muscle and fat Cross Talk in joint damage
Background: Recent studies have shown that certain naturally occurring substances in the body can cause damage to our joints. These substances include "adipokines" that are released from joint fat tissue, and "myokines" that are released by joint skeletal muscle tissue. Several of these adipokines and myokines are thought to cause problems with the regulation of inflammation and metabolism, which in turn can contribute to joint damage in conditions such as osteoarthritis (OA).
Aim of the study: We will examine the interaction, also called "cross-talk", between muscle, fat and joint tissue from patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery in order to identify new targets for therapeutic intervention.
Study design: We will recruit a total of 1256 patients aged 35-85 who are undergoing orthopaedic surgery who are either normal weight, overweight or obese and either male or female who have different anatomical arthritis.
We will compare the groups for the following outcome measures: Height and weight, waist and hip circumference, blood pressure (physical assessment); Inflammation (blood test); body's response to sugar and insulin (metabolic blood test); Joint damage (physical assessment, routine x-ray, blood test); Function of adipokines and myokines (tissue analysis); Cross-talk between muscle, fat and joint tissue, and its impact on the joint (tissue analysis).
Outcome: We will determine the role of adipokines and myokines in controlling inflammation and metabolism, and in causing damage to the joint. By identifying how the cross-talk between muscle, fat and joint tissue affect the joint, we could identify a site of action for a drug (called a drug target) to prevent or slow down the progression of joint damage
REC name
South East Scotland REC 01
REC reference
16/SS/0172
Date of REC Opinion
31 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion