Mechanisms underlying inflammation associated muscle loss
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mechanisms underlying inflammation associated muscle loss: the role of local steroid metabolism
IRAS ID
120634
Contact name
Karim Raza
Contact email
Research summary
We aim to determine why people with inflammatory conditions (and in particular rheumatoid arthritis) develop a loss of muscle tissue and muscle strength. We will assess how important the production of glucocorticoids (anti-inflammatory steroids produced within the body) is in regulating this loss during inflammation. We also aim to identify new targets for drug treatment that might counteract or reverse inflammatory loss of muscle. To achieve this we required a small amount of muscle tissue from patients with rheumatoid arthritis so as to directly measure their production of glucocorticoids before and after treatment with anti-TNFa therapy (that will be given as part of usual clinical care). This will allow us to examine how muscle steroid production changes with inflammation and assess its contribution to inflammatory muscle wasting.
REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/WM/0177
Date of REC Opinion
4 Aug 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion