Regulation of inflammation in diabetes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Modulation of immune cell trafficking during inflammation in diabetes.
IRAS ID
252530
Contact name
Myriam Chimen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 25 days
Research summary
Immune cells (white blood cells) are essential for fighting infections effectively and repairing damaged tissue. A complex biological response known as inflammation is responsible for localising these cells to affected tissues. In health, inflammatory responses resolve once the insult is eliminated. However, in some conditions regulation of inflammation is dysfunctional and it becomes persistent which results in pathology in chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We are therefore interested in understanding the regulation of inflammation, in particular immune cell movement, in patients with diabetes. A better understanding of how the control of immune cell migration is impaired in this population would allow identification and development of novel therapeutic agents. We have recently identified a novel peptide hormone, PEPITEM that regulates the movement of immune cells across the blood vessel wall during inflammation. Importantly, PEPITEM does not work properly in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, but PEPITEM has strong therapeutic potential, as we have shown that it can be used to regain control of immune cell movement in these people. Loss of the PEPITEM pathway in chronic diseases is due to a lack of specific receptors on a type of immune cells, induction of which leads to release of PEPITEM. The aim of our research will be to identify the pathways that usually maintain expression of these receptors on these immune cells and to determine whether and how this is lost in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Importantly, this will allow us to design strategies which can restore the regulatory pathways thereby invigorating the proper function of the immune system.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0636
Date of REC Opinion
30 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion