Characterisation of the immune response to SARSCoV2 in Type 1 diabetes [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Characterisation of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in Type 1 diabetes
IRAS ID
253888
Contact name
Rhian Beynon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health board
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Emerging clinical details of the current SARS-CoV-2 (Coronavirus) pandemic have illustrated that there are multiple clinical presentations of this viral infection. People with an infection have been reported to have a spectrum of disease from severe acute respiratory distress requiring ventilation, to mild respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms and asymptomatic presentations. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been accompanied with a substantial increase in the number of individuals presenting with new onset type 1 diabetes. We have identified that many individuals presenting with type 1 diabetes since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic are SARS-CoV-2 positive by swab or blood test. We have also observed that T cells in patients who have had COVID recognise some of the peptides in the pancreatic islet cells, which are responsible for production of insulin (IRAS 269506). These findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection may be associated with new onset of type 1 diabetes. The aim of this project is to understand the host immune response to infection with SARS-CoV-2 over time in convalescent newly diagnosed patients with type 1 diabetes, including acquired immune responses, gene expression profiling in peripheral blood and to identify host genetic variants associated with disease progressions or severity. Participants will have newly diagnosed Type 1 diabetes (diagnosed during the COVID pandemic). Samples will be processed and analysed to explore the molecular mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 infection might precipitate immune attack on insulin-producing cells resulting in autoimmune diabetes. Potential participants will be identified by Consultant Paediatricians/Endocrinologists at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University health board, Cardiff and the Vale health board and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. Recruitment and all clinical research activities will be carried out by doctors and nurses in the regular diabetes clinic at each research site.
REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
20/WA/0355
Date of REC Opinion
18 Dec 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion