Study of the effects of Vitamin D on immune responses to Tuberculosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Study of the effects of Vitamin D on immune responses to Tuberculosis.
IRAS ID
147779
Contact name
Mahdad Noursadeghi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Office (part of the Research Support Centre)
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2015/01/13, Data Protection number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 0 days
Research summary
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major threat to global health. The immune system provides an important line of defence against infection with TB, but may also contribute to the pathogenesis of disease. Augmenting the immune defence against TB is a research priority, in particular developing strategies to bias human immune responses towards protective defences without the risk of greater pathogenicity. Vitamin D supplementation offers the potential to meet this aim.
In this study, we will examine the effect of vitamin D on immune responses within the body by taking skin biopsies after injecting extracts of dead TB bacteria (tuberculin) into the skin of patients with active TB, latent TB or no TB infection, before or after receiving vitamin D supplements. These samples will be used to measure gene expression patterns throughout the human DNA code, giving a comprehensive and unbiased view of the effect of vitamin D on immune responses to TB. We will test the hypothesis that vitamin D supplements can both augment immune defences against TB and reduce excessive inflammation, depending on whether someone has active or latent TB infection. Patients will be recruited from Northwick Park Hospital, where there is a high incidence of both active and latent TB.
Our results will inform our understanding of the mechanisms by which vitamin D affects the immune system and hence lead to more rational use of vitamin D supplements in clinical practice, with a major impact on the management of TB in the UK and across the world.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0596
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion