Umbilical cord Cell Model of Inflammation and Disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Regulation of the recruitment and migration of leukocytes during inflammation
IRAS ID
183750
Contact name
Helen McGettrick
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Inflammation is the body's protective response to injury that aims to clear infectious organisms and repair tissue damage. A key element of this response is the controlled recruitment of white blood cells (leukocytes) from the blood into the affected tissue. Unfortunately, uncontrolled inflammatory responses play a role in a variety of human pathologies, from rheumatoid arthritis to the initiation of heart attacks. Tissue-resident mesenchymal stromal cells can actively control inflammation, by regulating the ability of leukocytes to enter into inflamed tissues through the wall of blood vessels. One way they can achieve these effects is by talking to their neighbouring endothelial cells that line the blood vessel wall.
Our major goal is to obtain an understanding of how stromal cells and endothelial cells 'talk' to each other, to regulate the recruitment of leukocytes during inflammation. We also aim to investigate the concept that stromal cells become mis-programmed in chronic inflammatory conditions, and thus fail to carry out their protective function.
To this achieve this we will isolate cells from the umbilical cords of pregnant women undergoing elective c-section: namely endothelial cells lining the umbilical vein and mesenchymal stem cells resident in the Wharton’s jelly.
Eligible participants (>18 years old) will be recruited and consented by the midwife care team during pre-operative clinics. Umbilical cords will be collected and anonymised by the direct care team. Anonymised samples will be analysed in laboratories at the University of Birmingham. Endothelial cells and/or stromal cells will be exposed to treatments mimicking acute and chronic vascular inflammation, or thought to control these processes. Effects of these treatments will be evaluated by analysing recruitment and expression of various molecules.
Current funding from Arthritis Research UK and British Heart Foundation finishes by 2018, whilst recently submitted applications to Wellcome Trust are anticipated to end in 2020.
REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NE/0285
Date of REC Opinion
6 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion