Investigation of Bone Marrow Macrophages

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Investigation of Bone Marrow Macrophages

• IRAS ID

  159479

• Contact name

  David Roberts

• Contact email

  david.roberts@ndcls.ox.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Clinical Trials and Research Governance team

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 0 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  The objective is to understand the role and significance of a special type of cell found in the bone marrow. This cell is called a macrophage. We would like to know how macrophages affect the production of red cells found in the blood.

  The production of red blood cells (RBCs) in living organisms must be tightly regulated. When this does not happen it can cause medical conditions such as anaemia (too few red cells) or polycythaemia vera (too many red blood cells).

  There is some evidence to show that red blood cells are attached to bone marrow macrophages. The macrophages appear to act as ‘nurse cells’ to support red cell development. However little is known of how macrophages work. The focus of our work is to understand the exact role and significance of these macrophages in RBC development and production in humans.

  Here, we will collect cells from the exposed edge of the sternum of patients undergoing heart surgery and isolate the bone marrow macrophages to describe:
  1. their shape and the molecules they contain so we can detect them
  2. the genes that control how they work
  3. how they support red cell development

  In addition two small samples of blood will be requested for:
  1. comparing bone marrow macrophages with macrophages made in the peripheral blood from the same participant
  2. measuring vitamins and hormones that may influence macrophage function

  Understanding the precise functions of bone marrow-derived macrophages in red cell development will draw us closer to creating new therapies for disorders with abnormal red blood cell formation, such as the acquired genetic diseases polycythaemia vera, myelodysplasia and inherited conditions such as β-thalassaemia. It will also help understand how patients can recover from anemia induced by chemotherapy or following bone marrow transplantation.

• REC name

  South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  15/SC/0514

• Date of REC Opinion

  13 Aug 2015

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion