Immune CAP
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Tissue-resident memory T-cell (TRM) response in severe Community Acquired Pneumonia (ImmuneCAP Study): An observational pilot study
IRAS ID
263517
Contact name
Christopher Andersen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Clinical Trials and Research Governance
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research Summary:
Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is an infection of the lungs where the lungs become inflamed. Severe CAP requires admission to hospital in specialised areas with increased nursing care such as intensive care (ICU) and may require the temporary support of a breathing machine (mechanical ventilation). In England pneumonia is the most common infection-related cause for ICU admission and UK data indicates that up to a third of patients admitted to an ICU with pneumonia die. There is a large economic cost and survivors are often left with significant reductions in their quality of life. \n\nImmune responses in the lung need to balance identification and elimination of pathogens with the collateral damage of lung inflammation and injury. Of particular interest are specialised immune cells called Tissue Resident Memory T-cells, TRM, that play a crucial role in protecting the lung against bacterial and viral pathogens. As the name suggests this specialised type of immune cells are ‘resident’ in the lung tissues and are not detected in the circulating blood of patients. In this feasibility study we will study TRM-cells in mechanically ventilated patients with severe CAP. We will compare the immune responses of patients with severe CAP to two different control groups. The first control group will be mechanically ventilated patients with lung injury not caused by infection. The second control group will be mechanically ventilated patients without evidence of lung injury. Excess samples from routinely collected lung fluid specimens (mini-BAL) will be analysed with using advanced flow cytometry and gene expression techniques. Because the immune cells we are interested in are only in the lung tissues this is the least invasive way to access these cells. Studying the local immune response to severe CAP offers insights into how this disease occurs and may identify novel therapeutic targets for this important condition.\n
Summary of results:
This observational study was terminated after recruitment of <5 patients due to resource limitation caused by the covid19 pandemic.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/YH/0289
Date of REC Opinion
31 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion