Investigating the Incretin System in Cystic Fibrosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the Incretin System in Cystic Fibrosis - a study comparing the incretin effect and response to incretin hormone infusions in people with cystic fibrosis with varying degrees of glucose intolerance and matched controls
IRAS ID
133035
Contact name
Martin Walshaw
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) causes progressive damage to the insulin-secreting cells inside the pancreas. This explains why by the time most people with the condition reach adulthood they have some degree of abnormal blood sugar regulation & rates of diabetes rise significantly with age. CF-related diabetes is categorically different from other types of diabetes & its development is serious as it heralds a faster decline in lung function & a reduced life expectancy.
The hallmark of abnormal sugar handling in CF is high glucose levels after meals as the damaged pancreas responds abnormally slowly. Over 70% of the initial response of a healthy pancreas is induced, not by glucose alone, but by hormones released from the bowel known as incretins. Problems with the incretins have been shown to be important in the development of Type 2 diabetes, but it is unclear whether they also play a significant role in CF-related diabetes. To improve our knowledge of this important condition and potentially highlight new ways to treat it we will:
- measure how much insulin is secreted after a sugary drink test and then again after an intravenous glucose drip test (run at a rate that mimics the blood sugar levels obtained during the first test to make it a fair comparison). Incretin hormones will only be produced during the first test, meaning that any extra insulin produced will be directly due to these hormones.
- measure responses to direct infusions of the incretin hormones themselves to detect if there is any resistance to their effects.
- explore which components of food cause incretin hormone release by measuring blood levels after different types of meals are consumed.
- measure levels of the enzyme that breaks down the incretin hormones (DPP-4) to know if they are deactivated more quickly in people with CF.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/NW/0712
Date of REC Opinion
15 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion