Understanding “villitis of unknown aetiology“
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Villitis of unknown aetiology: A potential process of fetal allograft rejection
IRAS ID
126834
Contact name
Mark Kilby
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Research summary
Villitis of unknown aetiology (VUE) is a common problem (up to 15% of term pregnancies) and has a strong association with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and other fetal morbidities. IUGR is an important cause of perinatal mortality and morbidity, including prematurity, and has health consequences throughout childhood and into adult life.
We will examine in detail the cellular immunology underlying VUE using archived and prospectively collected specimens from the West Midlands Perinatal Pathology Service. We will conduct a detailed phenotypic and functional assessment of the infiltrating lymphocytes responsible for VUE. Multiparameter flow cytometry based assays will enable a comprehensive assessment of cytokine production, cytotoxicity, and antigen specificity of lymphocytes, which will be extracted from the tissue by magnetic-bead selection based techniques. We will also examine altered gene expression in cellular subsets isolated from tissue sections by laser capture micro-dissection. Lymphocyte homing will be further investigation by cell migration assays. VUE placenta will be compared with diseased and healthy, gestation matched controls.
The use of techniques, pioneered to investigate T-lymphocyte cell immunology in transplantation, transferred to the reproductive immunology setting will enable a detailed and novel insight into the mechanisms of VUE. This may suggest new diagnostic or immunomodulatory treatment strategies.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/WM/0178
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion