Role of Oxidative Stress in Inflammation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Role of Oxidative Stress in Inflammation
IRAS ID
183460
Contact name
Lisa Mullen
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Research & Development Office
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
The aim of this study is to investigate how oxidative stress contributes to rheumatic disease such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Advancing our understanding of the processes by which the symptoms of these diseases are caused will help with the development of better treatments for patients in the future.
Cells in the blood help to control the body’s response to infection and injury. They generate inflammation which causes pain, swelling and redness. This is a form of protection against infection and at sites of injury aids the healing process. In most people inflammation will stop after the infection or injury is no longer present. However, in patients with gout, RA or SLE, inflammation occurs in the absence of infection or injury. This causes pain, tissue damage and a reduced quality of life.
Rheumatic diseases often affect the joints in addition to many other tissues of the body. Cells from the blood move into the joints where they produce inflammation causing pain and damage that may eventually lead to disability. Current therapies have shown great benefit but do not work for all patients and are not a cure. They are also very expensive meaning their use is limited within the NHS.
To perform this study, patients will be asked to donate a blood sample. Some patients undergoing a procedure to their joints (e.g. aspiration of fluid from joints) will be asked to donate tissue being removed as part of their clinical procedure. Blood samples from healthy participants will be used for comparison.
Understanding how inflammation is controlled will be important for the development of new more effective therapies at a lower cost.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
15/NS/0083
Date of REC Opinion
26 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion