Identification of B Regulatory Cells by Flow Cytometry
This study aims to find a better way to check if allergy treatment, called immunotherapy, is working for people with pollen or insect venom allergies. Immunotherapy helps your body build up a tolerance to allergens, but it can take a long time to know if it's successful. Researchers want to see if changes in certain white blood cells, called B-regulatory cells, can show us earlier on if the treatment is effective. If these cells increase, it might mean your body is becoming more tolerant and your allergic reactions are lessening. We'll also ask people to fill out questionnaires to see if improvements in symptoms match changes in these cells. This could help doctors know sooner whether a treatment plan is helping or if it needs to be adjusted.
At a glance
What is this study about?
This research is looking for a new and quicker way to tell if a common allergy treatment, called allergy immunotherapy (AIT), is working. AIT helps your body become more tolerant to things that cause allergies, like pollen or insect venom. This is really important because AIT is currently the only treatment known to prevent severe reactions, like anaphylaxis, in people who have had bad reactions to insect stings.
At the moment, it can take a very long time, often a few years, after starting AIT to know if it's truly successful. Doctors usually have to wait and see if your allergic symptoms improve when you're exposed to the allergen again. This study focuses on a special type of white blood cell called B-regulatory cells (BREGs). These cells play a key role in controlling allergic reactions by releasing a chemical that calms down the immune system. We believe that a successful AIT treatment might lead to an increase in these helpful BREG cells.
The main goal is to develop a reliable test to measure BREGs in your blood. By doing this throughout your AIT treatment, we hope to discover if changes in your BREG levels can tell us early on if the treatment is working. This could mean doctors would know much sooner whether to continue with a treatment, adjust it, or even stop it if it's not effective. This could save patients time and ensure they get the right treatment more quickly. We will also be asking people to share how they feel by completing questionnaires to see if changes in BREGs match up with improvements in their allergy symptoms and overall quality of life.
Key takeaways
- This study investigates if changes in special white blood cells (B-regulatory cells) can show if allergy treatment is working.
- The goal is to find a faster way for doctors to assess the success of allergy immunotherapy.
- It focuses on allergies to pollen, house dust mites, and insect venom.
- Participants will have blood tests and complete symptom questionnaires.
- This research could lead to more efficient and personalised allergy treatment in the future.
Who may be eligible?
To join this study, you need to be an adult, aged 18 or older. We are looking for two main groups of people. One group will be people who have allergies to pollen, house dust mites, or insect venom, and have been diagnosed by a doctor. This group is called the 'test cohort'.
The second group, called the 'control cohort', will be healthy volunteers who do not have any allergies, specifically to pollen, house dust mites, or insect venom. We will check this with blood tests to make sure.
You cannot take part if you are under 18, pregnant, or have other types of allergies (not related to pollen, house dust mite, or insect venom). You also need to be able to understand information given in English, both spoken and written.
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 18 years old or older?
- Do you have a doctor's diagnosis of pollen, house dust mite, or insect venom allergy?
- Alternatively, are you a healthy adult with no known allergies to pollen, house dust mites, or insect venom?
- Are you able to understand information in English?
- Are you not currently pregnant?
What does participation involve?
If you take part in this study, you will have blood samples taken at different times during your allergy immunotherapy treatment. These blood samples will help us measure the special B-regulatory cells. You will also be asked to fill out questionnaires periodically throughout the study. These questionnaires will ask about your allergy symptoms and how they affect your quality of life. The study aims to follow how these cells and your symptoms change over time while you are receiving your routine allergy treatment. There is no new medication involved, and you'll continue with your standard allergy treatment (immunotherapy) as prescribed by your doctor.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- Hull Teaching Hospital NHS TrustVerified postcodeHull, United Kingdom
Common questions
What are B-regulatory cells?
They are a type of white blood cell that helps calm down allergic reactions in your body.
What is allergy immunotherapy (AIT)?
It's a treatment that helps your body build up a tolerance to things you're allergic to, like pollen or insect venom, to reduce your reactions.
Why is this study important?
It could help doctors know much earlier if allergy immunotherapy is working, saving time and ensuring patients get the best treatment faster.
Will I receive any new medication in this study?
No, you will only continue with your standard allergy treatment that your doctor has already prescribed.
What do I have to do if I join?
You'll have some blood samples taken and be asked to fill out questionnaires about your symptoms at different times during your allergy treatment.
How to find out more
Kristina Emsell-Needham, BSc, MSc
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Interested in taking part?
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