Immune cells and control of disease progression in lung fibrosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of immune cells in control of disease progression in lung fibrosis
IRAS ID
121881
Contact name
Ling-Pei Ho
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a condition characterised by progressive scarring (fibrosis) of the lung. Loss of lung function leads to respiratory failure and death and the median survival of patients with IPF is 2-5 years, although it is recognised that some patients pursue a less aggressive disease course.
The cause and pathogenic mechanisms involved in the development of IPF are not clearly understood but research suggests that the accumulation of scar tissue is the result of minor repetitive injury in the context of a severely dysregulated repair process which is not subjected to normal immune cellular controls. This project focuses on the role of certain subsets of immune cells, collectively called restorative-reparative cells (or RRCs) in the resolution of repair and prevention of progressive fibrosis in patients with IPF and other fibrotic lung diseases.
We hypothesise that defects in this group of cells contribute to the fibrotic process and that the extent to which these cells are dysfunctional determines the rate of disease progression and the likelihood of exacerbation.
We will recruit patients with IPF and other fibrotic lung diseases from the Interstitial Lung Disease Service at the Churchill Hospital. We will monitor their clinical progress both retrospectively and prospectively, focusing on periods of acute disease worsening (exacerbation). In conjunction, we will take blood and lavage samples at the start and at intervals during the study to examine the function, number and activity of RCCs. We also examine stored lung biopsy samples to look at the presence and location of RCCs in relation to histopathological features.
This study should increase our knowledge of the immunological mechanisms involved in IPF. A greater understanding of this devastating disease is essential in facilitating the development of more effective treatments.
This study is funded by UCB-Oxford University Alliance.REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SC/1060
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion