PAFR in Health and Disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
PAFR Expression and Streptococcus pneumoniae adhesion to nasal epithelial cells in Health and Disease; a cross-sectional study
IRAS ID
227903
Contact name
Jonathan Grigg
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common bacteria that causes pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis in childhood, leading to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Compared to healthy individuals, children with chronic underlying disease are at a higher risk of developing pneumococcal infections. Sickle cell disease and asthma are two common chronic medical conditions of childhood that confer an increased risk of streptococcal infection.
Streptococcus pneumoniae colonizes the nose and throat of up to 40% of the population, without causing any symptoms or problems. In order to cause invasive disease, the bacteria must also successfully enter into human host cells. To achieve this, Streptococcus pneumoniae binds to the platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor (PAFR) on human cells. In previous experimental studies, when PAFR is genetically deleted from model animals or when PAFR is blocked by targeted drugs, we have seen that that Streptococcus pneumoniae has much more difficulty binding to human cells.
We speculate whether individuals with asthma and sickle cell disease may have higher expression of PAFR, given their increased vulnerability to pneumococcal infections. Furthermore, we know that PAFR levels fluctuate with exposure to air pollution.
The aim of this study therefore is to compare PAFR levels in children with increased risk of streptococcal disease (those with asthma and sickle cell disease), compared to their healthy peers. We will gain samples of the cells lining the inside of the nostrils of all participants and measure the levels of PAFR and S. pneumoniae adeherence to see if there is any difference between the groups.
We will also measure air pollution exposure in all children in the study. This will allow us to assess the relationship between air pollution and PAFR levels within the different groups of children and control for any effects of air pollution on PAFR levels.REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1752
Date of REC Opinion
16 Oct 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion