Studying thermal and chemical responses in skin
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Studying thermal and chemical responses in skin
IRAS ID
213804
Contact name
Phil J Chowienczyk
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
IRAS 213804 and REC 17/LO/1600, IRAS and REC ref nos
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Effect of temperature and chemicals on human skin
Blood flow responses to either local temperature changes or chemicals allows an insight into the biology of the skin. The response of skin to environmental cold, usually involves local increased blood flow in humans that then reverses back to normal. The responses are to protect the body against temperature loss and cold-induced injury (e.g frostbite). We have discovered in mice that a channel on cell surfaces (TRPA1) plays an important role as a vascular cold sensor. We believe that this channel, which lets calcium into the cells, is also important in human skin.
We will investigate responses in healthy volunteers, or hypertension and diabetes patients, at King's College London, in the Clinical Research Facility (CRF), St Thomas' Hospital. We will measure forearm human skin blood flow using a 'speckle' machine which is secured above the forearms, and temperature changes whilst the volunteer is relaxed, with each arm supported. The experiment will typically, involve selection of four areas of skin (approx. 4cm2 in each case). The response after touching the skin with a 1 cm wide round cold probe will be measured for up to 30 min following cold probe application. The response will be measured after treatment (with local anaesthetic), in order to learn of TRPA1 involvement. The precise criteria with respect to timings may be changed, but the volunteers only need to stay still whilst the measurement of blood flow is in progress. The response of some agents injected intradermally will also be measured. We will take a small blood sample for analysis and ask participants to complete a simple questionnaire.
The study will allow us to compare responses in human skin and assess the role of sensory nerves that TRPA1 is considered to be localised on in the cold response.REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0103
Date of REC Opinion
17 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion