Author
Your Alpha1 study team in Aachen. This appeared in the Alpha1 Journal 1/2022.
Dear Alphas,
As part of the Alpha-1 Liver Study at the University Hospital Aachen, we have been investigating liver involvement in Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency for several years now.
One of the biggest mysteries is that the liver disease occurs more frequently in early childhood as well as in late adulthood. To solve this puzzle, we systematically examined the relevant tissue samples and discovered important differences between the materials from children and adults.
To investigate this observation in greater depth, we need to recreate the corresponding tissue types. This is now possible with so-called induced pluripotent stem cells, or "iPSCs" for short, which can be produced from urine samples.
While we have already obtained several adult samples and produced the iPSCs, we are still lacking samples from Pi*ZZ participants who developed a severe liver disease in childhood. It is irrelevant whether these participants have already received a transplant or whether they have recovered from the disease.
If you know someone like this (ideally at least 18 years old), please tell them about this study and encourage them to contact us if they are interested. We are also happy to collect the samples in person.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our study team at any time by email (alpha1@ukaachen.de) or phone (Alpha1 mobile: +49 241 80 36606). Only together can we uncover the secrets of childhood liver disease in AATM!
Thank you very much for your support!
Best regards
Your Alpha1 study team Aachen
