The Chronic Kidney Disease - Blood Brain Barrier project (CKD - BBB)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Chronic Kidney Disease - Blood Brain Barrier protect (CKD-BBB).
IRAS ID
275788
Contact name
Kieran McCafferty
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Barts Health NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
A major consequence of Chronic kidney disease is an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease and the development of cognitive impairment, which has significant implications for the life expectancy and functional status or patients.
Clinical and pre-clinical studies indicate that impairment of the blood-brain barrier (BBB, a semi-permeable border between the circulation and the central nervous system) may underlie these problems. We hypothesise that the presence of circulating compounds which are specifically elevated in CKD may play a causative role in causing this diruption. One compound of interest is called p-cresyl sulfate (pCS), which is elevated in patients with kidney disease, and is not readily removed by haemodialysis. We have evidence in cells and in rodent models to show that pCS may act on the BBB to alter its function, which may explain the cognitive problems seen in patients with kidney disease.
We wish to perform a labarotory study using blood samples (serum) from patients with CKD to determine if these blood samples cause changes in a cell based model of the BBB, and to investigate the mechanism of this effect.
REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0361
Date of REC Opinion
6 Mar 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion