DEFINITION
Research type
Research Study
Full title
DEFining INterferon mediated autoimmune condITIONS (DEFINITION)
IRAS ID
226254
Contact name
Edward M Vital
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Faculty of Medicine and Health Research Office
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 29 days
Research summary
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren’s Syndrome and Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease are autoimmune diseases. This means that, instead of fighting infections, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own normal tissues causing rashes, arthritis, organ damage and death. Our current treatments are not good enough. We use steroids (which are toxic) and drugs that target “B cells” in the immune system (which only work in a proportion of patients). So, despite treatment, patients with these diseases have poor quality of life, 3-fold increased risk of death and side effects from medications. We now know that these diseases are often caused by a molecule called Type I Interferon (IFN-I) whose normal role is fighting viruses. Drugs have been developed that can block IFN-I and appear effective for SLE with definitive trials in progress. So this is an opportunity for a completely new approach to treatment. However, in each of these diseases only a subgroup of patients have high IFN-I and, in SLE, the drug only works when IFN-I is high. We first want to allow more patients to benefit from this treatment by accurately identifying those with high IFN-I. This will include patients with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease. We will do this in our clinic via a detailed assessment of their symptoms and signs and using special investigations where needed. This assessment will be combined with novel, more accurate tests for interferon. Our second objective is to look at people at risk of these diseases because they have recently developed one or two features. Since IFN-I plays a crucial role in starting the diseases we think that by measuring it in these people we may be able to identify those at risk, and also whether IFN blocking treatment would be a possible option to prevent them developing the disease.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/YH/0166
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion