Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Stem Cell Strategies for the Treatment of Chronic Asthma

This laboratory study is exploring new treatment ideas for asthma. Researchers are using samples of airway cells from people with mild asthma, severe asthma, and those without asthma to see how they react to substances produced by special cells called 'mesenchymal stem cells' (MSCs). The aim is to understand if these MSCs could help reduce the inflammation and repair the damage often seen in the airways of people with asthma. Asthma can lead to ongoing inflammation and changes in the airways over time, making it harder to breathe. MSCs are known for their ability to calm the immune system and help with tissue repair, making them a promising area for research into long-lasting asthma treatments.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

Enrolment target

Start

31 Aug 2016

Estimated completion

31 Dec 2025

Asthma

What is this study about?

Asthma is a common long-term condition that affects millions of people in the UK. When someone has asthma, their airways can become inflamed and narrow, making it difficult to breathe. Over time, these airways can also change and become stiffer, a process called 'remodelling', which can make standard treatments less effective.

This particular study is a lab-based investigation, which means it doesn't involve giving treatments directly to people yet. Instead, researchers are focusing on tiny samples of airway cells. They are comparing how these cells behave when exposed to certain substances produced by 'mesenchymal stem cells' (MSCs). MSCs are special cells that have shown promise in calming the body's immune response and helping with tissue repair. The hope is that understanding how these MSC substances affect airway cells could open the door to new, more effective ways to treat asthma in the future.

The study aims to understand two main things: whether these MSC substances can help reduce the inflammation that makes asthma worse, and if they can help repair some of the damage and changes that happen in the airways over time. By looking at cells from people with mild asthma, severe asthma, and no asthma, the researchers can gain a clearer picture of how these stem cell products might work differently depending on the severity of the condition.

Key takeaways

This is a lab study testing new ideas for asthma treatment, not a direct human treatment trial yet.
It uses special 'stem cells' (MSCs) to see if they can help reduce inflammation and repair airways.
Samples are taken from people with mild asthma, severe asthma, and no asthma for comparison.
The goal is to find new ways to treat asthma that offer longer-lasting relief.
Your contribution through sample donation helps advance scientific understanding of asthma.

Who may be eligible?

To take part in this study, you need to be aged between 18 and 70. You must be able to understand the study information and be willing to give your informed consent. For women who could become pregnant, a negative pregnancy test is needed before a procedure called a bronchoscopy.

If you have asthma, you must have a doctor's diagnosis of asthma and it needs to be stable, meaning no recent flare-ups in the last four weeks. Your breathing will be checked using tests like spirometry, which measures how much air you can breathe out. Your oxygen levels also need to be good. If you don't have asthma, you mustn't have any long-term lung conditions or any other serious health issues, and you shouldn't have had a chest infection recently.

People with a significant smoking history (more than 10 'pack years' – a pack year is like smoking 20 cigarettes a day for a year) cannot take part. Also, if you have other serious lung conditions, have had a heart attack recently (within the last 6 weeks), or need home oxygen for your asthma, you unfortunately wouldn't be able to participate. The study is open to both men and women.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 70 years old?
Do you have stable asthma, or no lung conditions?
Have you smoked for less than 10 'pack years' (or never smoked)?
Have you not had a recent heart attack (within 6 weeks) or currently need home oxygen?
Are you able to understand study information and give consent?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

Please note, this is a laboratory study using donated tissue samples, not a trial where you would receive a new treatment. If you were considering being a donor for a study like this, it would typically involve attending a clinic for a health check and to provide specific tissue samples, which might include a procedure called a bronchoscopy (where a thin tube is passed into your airways) or blood tests. There would be no medication to take at home, no long-term follow-up visits, as the study is focused on lab-based analysis of samples. The total duration of your direct involvement would be the time taken for the initial assessment and sample collection.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this is a laboratory study using samples, there are no direct benefits to you as a participant, as you would not be receiving any experimental treatment. However, your contribution through sample donation is invaluable for advancing our understanding of asthma and potentially leading to new treatments for others in the future. Any procedures to collect samples carry a small risk, such as discomfort from blood tests or minor risks associated with a bronchoscopy, which would be fully explained before you agree to take part. You would always have the right to withdraw your consent and participation at any time without giving a reason, and this would not affect your medical care.

Locations (1)

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
Verified postcode
Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom

Common questions

What are 'stem cells' and how do they relate to asthma?

Stem cells are special cells that have the ability to develop into many different cell types. In this study, researchers are looking at mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) because they can help calm the immune system and repair tissues, which might be helpful in treating asthma.

Will I receive a new asthma treatment in this study?

No, this is a lab-based study using cells from people, not a clinical trial where new treatments are given directly to patients. Its purpose is to understand how these cells work.

Why are samples from people with and without asthma needed?

By comparing samples from different groups, researchers can see how asthma affects airway cells and how the stem cell substances might work differently in people with mild asthma, severe asthma, or no asthma.

What is a 'bronchoscopy'?

A bronchoscopy is a medical procedure where a thin, flexible tube with a camera is gently passed down into your airways to look at them closely and sometimes collect small samples. This would only be done if medically necessary for sample collection and after a full explanation of the procedure.

How long would my involvement be if I were to donate samples?

Your involvement would typically be limited to the time required for initial health checks and the specific procedure to collect samples. There would be no long-term follow-up as the study is conducted in the laboratory.