Regulation of gut inflammation in health and disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A study of gut immunoregulation and epithelial function in healthy individuals and individuals with inflammatory bowel disease.
IRAS ID
114822
Contact name
Tim Raine
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
10 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The human gut is well understood as an organ of digestion and absorption. Less well understood, but equally important, is the role of the gut as an interface with the external environment, including a range of microorganisms, both commensal ("healthy") and pathogenic. The human gut appears to possess a range of methods to protect against infectious disease, including special functions of the cells lining the gut (enterocytes) as well as a range of specialised cells of the immune system that reside within the gut. The protective functions of these cell populations are poorly understood but a critical balance is required to avoid over-vigorous immune responses which can lead to severe inflammation, with resultant diarrhoea, pain, bleeding and malnutrition, as seen in, for example, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study is to obtain samples of blood, gut tissue and bowel contents, to allow us to study the way in which these cell populations detect and respond to pathogenic and non-pathogenic challenges. In particular, we will study the way in which genetic variation in individuals affects the response to gut microorganisms. In this way, we hope to build up a more complete picture of the function of the gut immune system in response to challenge.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EE/0338
Date of REC Opinion
28 Sep 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion