Rhinovirus Infection in Asthma Clinical Trial
Official title:
Mechanisms of Interplay Between Allergy and Viruses in Asthma: A Human Model of Rhinovirus Induced Acute Asthma Exacerbations
The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of interplay between allergy (IgE and
Th2 mediated inflammation) and virus infection in the development of asthma, as well as the
risk and severity of acute exacerbations of asthma. Understanding these mechanisms should
identify new approaches for novel therapies for the prevention of asthma development and for
prevention/treatment of asthma exacerbations. Such treatment has potential to have a major
impact on patient quality of life and to result in enormous reductions in health care costs.
A human model will be used to identify dysregulated genes/proteins and determine
relationships with disease outcomes. This study will compare lower airway responses between
asthmatic and healthy control subjects undergoing rhinovirus (RV) experimental infection
(subjects will be infected with rhinovirus as part of the study). This will have the dual
advantage of investigating mechanisms in the most natural model possible, as well as
developing a better model for testing novel therapeutic approaches. The investigators will
analyse the samples from both subject groups, to determine their relevance to the human
disease. Any genes/proteins shown to be dysregulated and related to disease outcomes in the
human model will be very strong candidates for immediate translation into human intervention
studies.
Up to 12 asthmatic and/or healthy subjects will be recruited for a preliminary pilot study.
These subjects will be ineligible to enter the main study due to the presence of
neutralizing antibody to RV16 (~50% of subjects otherwise suitable for the study). These
subjects will meet all other inclusion/exclusion criteria for the main study. The 12
participants will undergo tests including a single bronchoscopy, nasal sampling and blood
tests allowing for optimisation of all sample processing techniques. They will not be
infected with RV-16.
In the main study the investigators will aim to study up to 15 healthy volunteers and 15
volunteers with moderate asthma (all on inhaled steroid treatment). Subjects will undergo a
single baseline bronchoscopy 2 weeks prior to inoculation with the RV16 virus. Following
infection with the virus participants will be required to attend for regular sample
collection including 2 further bronchoscopies post-infection. Patients will be followed
until convalescence 6 weeks post infection.
n/a
Allocation: Non-Randomized, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Basic Science
| Status | Clinical Trial | Phase | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recruiting |
NCT01159782 -
Mechanisms of Rhinovirus Induced Asthma Exacerbations
|
N/A |