RELOAD-MS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Regulation of Lipid metabolism in Autoimmune Disease: Multiple Sclerosis
IRAS ID
240753
Contact name
Elizabeth Jury
Contact email
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2018/02/112 , UCL Data Protection Registration
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
In multiple sclerosis (MS) immune cells recognise myelin, the coating around nerve fibres, as a foreign molecule and attack it by mistake; at the same time regulatory immune cells (which are normally protective) do to not work properly and cannot block the harmful effects of the activated immune cells effectively.
Immune cells work via a complex system of signals that start on the outside layer of the cell (the plasma membrane), these signals are transmitted inside the cell where they trigger immune cell activation. The plasma membrane consists of a fatty layer and changes in the type of fat in the membrane can affect immune cell signalling and immune cell function.
The aims of this project are to:
1 Identify what is different about the types of fat in immune cells from healthy donors and people with MS and identify what triggers the production of these different types of fat.
2 Identify how different types of fat control immune cell function in healthy donors and people with MS
3 Identify possible ways that we can regulate the type of fat in immune cell membranes so we can restore normal immune cell function in MS.
Methods: This research study involves collecting participant demographic and clinical information, blood and cerebral spinal fluid (optional) from patients with MS. Blood will also be collected from healthy volunteers for comparison. Experiments will be performed on the blood samples and the results correlated with the clinical and disease features of patients.
Outcomes: Many of the molecules involved in the generation of fats are well known and for some of them drugs are already used in humans to treat diseases (for example statins). This could allow the rapid translation of the results from this study to the clinic and have a direct impact for people with MS.REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0323
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jun 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion