Phenotype of epithelial cells cultured from human nasal polyps
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Phenotype and inflammatory profile of human epithelial cells cultured from nasal polyp tissue
IRAS ID
185606
Contact name
Garry M Walsh
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Grampian
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
In the past, airway inflammation in asthma was thought to occur due to an abnormal, allergic immune response. However it is now becoming clear that such an abnormal immune response by itself is insufficient to cause asthma. We now realise that asthma develops in the presence of an abnormal airway epithelium which is made up of the cells lining the lungs (airway epithelial cells). Interleukins (IL) are a large family of molecules vital for communication between the cells involved in immune responses and inflammation and many are produced by the airway epithelium both in health and also in respiratory diseases such as asthma. We have been examining the role of interleukins in airway epithelial cells sampled from patients with and without asthma and then grown (cultured) in the laboratory. However, this approach does not provide sufficient numbers of cells to perform some important experiments. Nasal polyps are overgrowths of the mucosa that frequently accompany allergic rhinitis (hay fever). They are often removed routinely using minor surgery and are then discarded. Airway epithelial cells from part of their structure which is why we would like to use them as a source of these cells. We propose to isolate nasal epithelial cells from nasal polyps, culture these cells and use them as models to examine interleukin function in asthma.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
15/WS/0227
Date of REC Opinion
13 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion