White Blood Cells in Liver Disease and Liver Transplantation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Characterisation of White Blood Cells in Liver Disease and Liver Transplantation.
IRAS ID
146983
Contact name
Alberto Sanchez-Fueyo
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
White blood cells are an important part of the healthy immune system and help to protect against infections and the development of cancer. Often white blood cells do not function correctly in patients with liver disease, which can be the result of the white cells not reacting to infection in a normal and effective way or produce an abnormal and exaggerated response leading to liver damage.
Patients who have received a liver transplant need immunosuppressive medication to prevent rejection. In these patients, the function of the white blood cells may provide clues as to how much immunosuppression medication is required. This project is designed to study white blood cells in patients with liver disease and in those who have undergone liver transplantation. Whenever feasible, we will compare the characteristics of white blood cells in the peripheral blood with those of the white cells found in the liver. Blood or liver tissue white cells will be used to do laboratory experiments in order to assess their number, type and function.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
15/NS/0062
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion