Profiling of inflammatory and immune cells in NASH and Type 2 diabetes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Multimodal profiling of inflammatory and immune cells to determine stage and treatment response in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and type II diabetes
IRAS ID
302093
Contact name
William Alazawi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Mary, University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the commonest chronic liver disease worldwide and affects up to 75% of people living with type 2 diabetes. In most people with NAFLD, build up of fat in the liver (simple steatosis) does not cause harm. However in up to 19% of cases, fat damages liver cells and causes inflammation and scarring of the liver. This is called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Over time, NASH can cause cirrhosis, which can lead to liver failure, cancer or death, and people with type 2 diabetes are at particular risk of this progression, but we do not fully understand why.
Apart from performing a liver biopsy, there is currently no accurate way to distinguish patients who have NASH from those with simple steatosis. NASH is characterised by presence of steatosis, damaged liver cells leading to scar formation (fibrosis) and immune cells. The nature and function of immune cells in the liver in NASH are largely unknown as is their relationship to immune cells in the peripheral blood and adipose tissue.
The aim of this project is to gain insights into the function of immune cells in different stages of NAFLD in the liver, adipose tissue and blood compared to healthy controls at baseline and 12 months following weight loss induced by bariatric surgery. Tissue and blood samples are obtained intra-operatively from NAFLD patients undergoing elective bariatric surgery and from healthy participants without NAFLD undergoing elective upper abdominal surgery. At 12 months, repeat blood and tissue sampling of liver and adipose tissue occur without further surgical intervention in all participants (NAFLD patients and healthy controls) to directly compare changes in immune cells following surgery over time. Repeat tissue sampling will be performed safely using a very thin needle under ultrasound guidance.REC name
London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/LO/0094
Date of REC Opinion
24 Mar 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion