Novel approaches to restore integrity of airway epithelium in asthma
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Targeting microRNAs to restore airway epithelium integrity after respiratory viral infection in asthma patients
IRAS ID
338345
Contact name
Fatemeh Moheimani
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester Metropolitan University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Over 5.4 million people in the UK suffer from asthma, with 5-10% of them having severe Asthma. The impact on patients’ quality of life is significant reaching levels of disability. Different triggers, including respiratory viruses, make it harder for asthmatics to breathe (asthma attack).
People with asthma have sensitive airways vulnerable to infections. The outer layer of the airway is called epithelium, which is the first protective barrier between viruses and the internal environment of lungs. The airway epithelium is a good resource for identifying markers that prevent asthma attacks and therapeutic targets.
Our goal in this study is to better understand the biological pathways and markers that regulate the recovery of the epithelium in severe asthmatics following flu infection.
To do this, we will obtain epithelial cells using bronchoscopy procedure from severe asthmatics and healthy controls. Participants will be identified using the inclusion/exclusion criteria through the Respiratory out-patient severe Asthma services at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Trust through Co-lead Professor Nawar Bakerly.
Patients’ samples will be transferred for analysis to Manchester Met. In the lab, we will grow these cells in similar conditions to the human body and infect them with the Flu virus.
Firstly, we will compare the global family of markers and gene products in cells obtained from asthmatics (with and without infection) with those from healthy donors. Therefore, we aim to detect markers that specifically regulate the genes responsible for epithelial cell repair in severe Asthma patients. Secondly, we will investigate in more detail the role of specific markers of interest (like microRNAs) and their targets (candidate genes) in epithelial cell repair in asthma patients. Finally, we will use knowledge from the previous two steps to restore airway epithelial cell integrity after flu infection. This project is funded by UKRI-MRC for the duration of 36 months.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SC/0127
Date of REC Opinion
14 May 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion