Clinical Trial Details
— Status: Completed
Administrative data
NCT number |
NCT00135681 |
Other study ID # |
244 |
Secondary ID |
P50HL056384 |
Status |
Completed |
Phase |
N/A
|
First received |
August 23, 2005 |
Last updated |
January 14, 2016 |
Start date |
December 1996 |
Est. completion date |
November 2001 |
Study information
Verified date |
January 2016 |
Source |
University of New Mexico |
Contact |
n/a |
Is FDA regulated |
No |
Health authority |
United States: Federal Government |
Study type |
Interventional
|
Clinical Trial Summary
To immunize both normal and asthmatic subjects with a neoantigen, keyhole limpet hemocyanin
(KLH) and observe the type of antibody and T cell response that develops.
Description:
BACKGROUND:
Asthma is a result of a dysregulated immune response to inhaled antigens. The development of
an immune response dominated by T cells (Th2) that secrete interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-5
results in the constellation of findings associated with asthma, including elevated IgE and
increased blood eosinophilia. Epidemiological studies indicate that there are several
predisposing factors that may dictate whether asthma may develop in certain individuals
including genetic, environmental, and age-related factors. Any one factor alone may not
determine whether an inappropriate immune response develops with subsequent development of
asthma; rather, asthma likely results from a combination of factors. However, once a Th2
response in the lung has occurred, the hypothesis is that it dominates and results in the
development of Th2 response to inhaled neoantigens. Further, the acquired predisposition to
a Th2 response may override other preexisting predisposing factors and therefore becomes the
prime target for asthma therapy.
DESIGN NARRATIVE:
The study was a subproject in a Specialized Center of Research (SCOR) in Fibrotic Lung
Disease from 1997 through 2001. Both normal and asthmatic subjects were immunized with a
neoantigen, keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), via intrapulmonary and subcutaneous routes and
observed for the type of antibody and T cell response that developed. Furthermore, the
effect of inhaled anti-inflammatory medications on primary immune responses to KLH was
assessed. Additional studies examined the effect of regional pulmonary Th2 responses on
peripheral blood asthma-associated effector cells, basophils and eosinophils. Finally, the
investigators determined whether chronic therapy of asthmatic children with either
nedocromil or budesonide modulated their immune response to a systemically administered
neoantigen, hepatitis B vaccine. These studies were designed to provide important
information on the regulation of immune responses in humans with asthma. Furthermore, they
helped to determine whether anti-inflammatory medications could inhibit development of a Th2
responses or only prevent inflammatory events downstream from Th2 development.
The subproject had three specific aims. The first was to test the hypothesis that the lower
respiratory tracts of asthmatics would respond differently to a neo-antigen. In part A of
specific aim 1, the lower respiratory tracts of asthmatics were challenged with KLH.
Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was repeated after 12 days and blood samples collected after a
number of time points. Immunoglobulins were measured in blood and BAL, and lymphocytes were
collected from the BAL and assayed for response to antigen in an in vitro test. In part B,
individuals were treated with six weeks of anti-inflammatory therapy after which responses
to intrapulmonary antigen were assessed.
Specific aim 2 assessed the role of acute challenge of the lung with antigen on eosinophil
and basophil responsiveness. The lung was challenged by intrapulmonary installation of
antigen through the bronchoscope and samples were collected from the peripheral blood at
various time points. An allergen challenge was performed after six weeks of therapy with
nedocromil budesonide or placebo.
In specific aim 3, asthmatic children were tested in two stages. In stage one, a preliminary
study was performed in children with relatively mild asthma who were immunized with
hepatitis vaccine. Samples were collected at various time points and assayed for
antigen-specific antibody. The hypothesis that asthmatic children would have a Th2 type
response rather than the Th1 type response in normal children was evaluated by determining
times at which samples could be collected from the larger Childhood Asthma Management
Program (CAMP) study.