A study to investigate the immune responses to Ultraviolet B challenges in the skin of healthy adults aged 18-60 years, and inform us on the relevant immune responses in cutaneous lupus erythematosus patients

Summary

This study is being conducted by GSK to improve our understanding of how the immune system works. An immune response is the body’s way of protecting you from infection, but when it is too active the immune response can cause medical conditions known as autoimmune diseases where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks itself. To help develop new medicines for these conditions, it is important that we understand the immune response better so that we can measure how new drugs are working. This study will help us understand how one component of the immune response; the interferon
response. Interferons are proteins which have a role in both the immune response to infections and in autoimmune diseases, such as cutaneous lupus erythematous (CLE).

In this study we will compare blood and skin samples from healthy participants after controlled ultraviolet B (UVB) light exposure to the skin of their inner forearm, with blood and skin samples from patients with CLE who have not been exposed to UVB light. UVB light is naturally occurring and produced by the sun as part of normal sunlight. It is known that UVB light, being used in this study, activates the interferon pathway.

In the healthy participants we will also be looking at how a particular genetic makeup (genotype) impacts the interferon response to the UVB light. The genotype of interest (HAQ/HAQ) is not linked to CLE or other medical conditions.

The NIHR Bioresource will help identify suitable individuals to participate in this study and allow us to understand how the results from healthy participants compare to what we see in patients with CLE. The information from this study will help us design new medicines which target the immune system, with potential to improve treatment of diseases like CLE.