Clinical Research Directory

An Exploratory Study of Arginine Supplementation and the Postoperative Immune REsponse

ASPIRE is a nutrition study focusing on the effect of arginine supplementation on immune function in postoperative infants. The investigators will explore the effect of current intravenous feeding (parenteral nutrition (PN)) formulations and oral arginine supplementation on blood arginine levels and the genes that are involved in body nutrition and fighting infection in babies who have had major bowel surgery or been diagnosed with necrotising enterocolitis. The investigators will undertake an exploratory physiological study across two sites under which are part of a single neonatal partnership. 48 infants will be recruited; 24 preterm infants and 24 term/near term infants. 16 of these infants (8 preterm and 8 term/near term) will be supplemented with arginine in both oral and parenteral form, 16 infants will receive arginine supplementation in oral form alone and 16 infants will receive standard nutrition with no arginine supplement. The investigators will record nutritional intake and routine biochemical testing data (which includes amino acid levels) collected over the first 30 days post surgery or post NEC diagnosis. The investigators will take blood for analysis at prespecified intervals for RNA sequencing, ammonia and metabolomics. RNA sequencing findings will allow the investigators to describe the effect of arginine on gene activity in postoperative infants The investigators hypothesise that arginine supplementation will result in changes in gene expression that are consistent with changes in T-cell function and associated inflammatory pathways.

Tracing Of Real-time glu13Cose Metabolism in Human Immune Cells

The purpose of this study is to understand how cells of the immune system use the common sugar glucose to fuel energy production and as a building block within the cell. Investigators will intravenously infuse a non-radioactive glucose tracer into participants over a few hours and collect immune cells from the blood to track uptake and usage of this glucose within these immune cells.

Deciphering the Role of Dietary Fatty Acids on Extracellular Vesicles-mediated Intercellular Communication

Dietary interventions have been consistently proposed as a part of a comprehensive strategy to lower the incidence and severity of atherosclerosis and coronary vascular disease. Excessive comsumption of fats enriched in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In contrasts, replacement of SFAs with monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω3-LCPUFAs) has been reported to be inversely associated with risk of atherosclerosis. This is partly due to the ability of MUFAs (and ω3-LCPUFAs) to modulate lipoprotein composition, oxidation state, and consequently their functionality, among others. While most of the nutritional studies have focused on elucidating the mechanisms by which dietary fats affect lipoprotein particles, little or nothing is known about the regulatory effect of dietary fatty acids on extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are small phospholipid particles that convey molecular bioactive cargoes and play essential roles in intercellular communication and, hence, a multifaceted role in health and disease. For the first time, the purpose of this project is to establish whether the type of major fatty acids present on a diet (SFAs, MUFAs, or ω3-LCPUFAs) may alter the structure, cargo, and functionality of postprandial- and long-term-EVs. In the precision nutrition era, the investigators expect to offer a new insight on EVs and their relationship with dietary fatty acids through the following objectives: 1) To map changes in the lipidome, proteome, microtranscriptome, and functional properties of circulating EVs in healthy subjects and patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) both at fasting and at postprandial state upon a challenge of a meal rich in SFAs, MUFAs, and ω3-LCPUFAs; 2) To analyse the contribution of postprandial triacylglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRL) on EVs-mediated intercellular communication in a fatty acid-dependent manner; and 3) To determine the influence of diets rich in SFAs, MUFAs, and ω3-LCPUFAs on EVs in an animal model of atherosclerosis in the setting of MetS. Collectively, this project will provide fundamental insight into EV biology, and remarks the clinical and functional relevance and divergent consequences of dietary fatty acids in health and disease.

Sand Play - the Effect of Biodiversity Exposure on Atopic Dermatitis

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis has increased along with urbanization and biodiversity loss. According to biodiversity hypothesis, the main reason is urban lifestyle and reduced contact to microbial diversity. Previous studies indicate association between atopic dermatitis and exposure to natural microbes in childhood. Sand Play - the Effect of Biodiversity Exposure on Atopic Dermatitis will investigate whether the exposure to microbial diversity in sandbox reduces the symptoms of atopic dermatitis, alters commensal microbiota and modifies immune regulation in children.

Biodiversity Interventions for Assisted Living Centers

Biodiversity is essential for nature and human well-being. Land use has reduced biodiversity in cities, which weakens the functionality of the urban ecosystems and the well-being of citizens. This may also increase the risk of immune-mediated disorders among urban dwellers. In Biodiversity interventions for assisted living centers (BIWE 2), microbial biodiversity interventions are performed to increase biodiversity in urban housing units for people with autism spectrum disorder, disabled people and elderly. Results from the intervention trials are combined with publicly available land cover and ecological data. These are analyzed from the viewpoint of shifts in ecosystems and human well-being and immune regulation, ecological quality, and urban planning. The investigators set up an intervention study in which yards of the housing units are rewilded with diverse vegetation and decaying deadwood and plant residuals. The investigators aim to evaluate the effect of rewilding, and yard management practices on commensal microbiome, cortisol levels and well-being and salivary cytokine levels, and gene pathways.

COVID-2019 Vaccine Immune Response Base on Single Cell Multi-Omics

In recent years, single-cell high-throughput sequencing technology has developed rapidly and is widely used in research related to the immune system, breaking traditional cognition and gaining a new understanding of immune cell classification. In particular, the emerging single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides new ideas for the study of cell heterogeneity in multicellular organisms. Analyzing the changes in the expression profile of the cell transcriptome at the single-cell level can clearly show the changes in the trajectory of individual cells, reveal new cell types, and discover the potential functions of immune cells. Therefore, this study intends to recruit healthy adults and use multi-omics techniques such as single-cell sequencing to systematically classify the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy adults to provide a basis for further disease-related research.

Microenvironment and Immunity of Digestive Cancers - East Paris Multicentric Cohort

Colorectal and pancreatobiliary cancers are the most common digestive cancers. Their incidence has particularly increased over the last few decades, leading to suspicion that environmental factors are involved. In addition, strategies for the therapeutic management of these cancers are evolving in the context of the development of immunotherapies. Tumor microenvironment is a potential source of new diagnostic, prognostic and predictive markers and new therapeutic targets. The links between tumor microenvironment and modulation of the immune system in colorectal and pancreatobiliary cancers are poorly understood. Molecular classifications have been proposed for these cancers, but their link with immunity and response to treatment remains to be explored. Objective : explore links between molecular subtypes, tumor microenvironment, host (immune system, pre-metastatic niche, intestinal microbiota, metabolism), and survival (prognostic value), response (predictive value) and tolerance (toxicities) to treatments in digestive cancers, in particular colorectal and pancreatobiliary cancers. Method: Retrospective and prospective monocentric cohort study