Myeloid cells in SLE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the role of mononuclear phagocytes in the pathogenesis of lupus erythematosus
IRAS ID
314621
Contact name
Chiara Giacomassi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Barts Health NHS Trust & Queen Mary University of London, Research Services
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a condition that commonly affects women of childbearing age. SLE is an ‘autoimmune’ disease which means the immune system that normally protects us from germs and infections, turns against us and causes organ damage. SLE can affect several organs such as joints, brain, lung, heart and kidneys. Skin involvement is also very common, often disfiguring, and treatment options are limited. The exact cause of SLE has not been yet identified, but it is known that the disease develops because of the presence of genetic predisposing factors, and also of environmental factors. For example, when some patients with SLE are exposed to sunlight, this might cause a rash and also worsen their disease provoking a flare which can affect other organs. The reason why this happens is still not clear, and with my research I aim to understand this. Our hypothesis is that immune cells present in the skin become inflamed and start inflaming other cells which cascades in causing inflammation into the blood vessels and throughout other parts of the body. In this study we aim to recruit 8 patients with cutaneous lupus, who have or not involvement of other organs. A better understanding of this process might lead to the development of new therapies for treating SLE and the skin lesions. A blood sample and 2 small biopsies of the skin will be taken by a trained physician, and further analysis of the samples will be carried out in the lab. In this study we are not testing any drugs, and the patient will need to attend the research facility based in an NHS hospital setting only once in most cases.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EE/0060
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jul 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion