Regulating inflammation in autoimmune rheumatic disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Trafficking and regulation of immune cells between the blood, skin and joint in autoimmune rheumatic disease.
IRAS ID
122080
Contact name
Michael Ehrenstein
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Research summary
The study aims to investigate how immune cells are regulated and traffic between the skin, joints and blood of patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases(ARD)- Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA), Psoriatic Arthritis(PsA) and Systemic Lupus Erythmatosus (SLE). Our overall goal is to understand the underlying mechanisms driving inflammation in the skin, joint and blood of patients with ARD. Joint and skin inflammation can occur together or independently in ARD, for example, in patients suffering from PsA or SLE. We hypothesise that differential disease mechanisms occur within the skin, joint and blood of patients with ARD and will thus be isolating cells from these compartments in order to compare these processes. In order to investigate this we will be studying the trafficking and regulation of immune cells between the skin, joint and blood. In addition, we will be studying how immune cells called regulatory T cells control inflammation within these sites and how they are directed from the blood into the areas of disease. In addition, we will explore how biological therapies used to treat arthritis, such as TNF-α or IL-6 inhibitors; affect cells from the skin, joints and blood from patients with ARD. We hope that understanding these mechanisms will provide a greater insight into the mechanisms of disease within these compartments and enable the design of more specific drugs to target patients.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/0999
Date of REC Opinion
3 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion