Clinical Trial: The Role of JAK2 in Alveolar Macrophages (AM's) in Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD)

Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Recruiting
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: The Role of JAK2 in Alveolar Macrophages in Chronic Beryllium Disease

Brief Summary:

Current studies suggest that alveolar macrophages (AM) act as silencers of most immune responses in the lung. However, in pathological conditions, such as asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and sarcoidosis, AMs become involved in the maintenance and further expansion of the immune response in the target organ. The Investigator has preliminary data demonstrating that CBD AMs at the site of disease involvement (bronchoalveolar lavage, BAL) display an activated cell surface phenotype compared to AMs from healthy controls. Furthermore, exciting data from our group demonstrates significant differences in gene expression profiles between CBD and Beryllium Sensitivity (BeS) bronchial alveolar lavage (BAL) cells, in pivotal immune response genes and networks. Specifically, the Investigator has found the JAK/STAT pathway and the JAK2 gene was dramatically overexpressed in CBD BAL cells. In addition, constitutively phosphorylated JAK2 (pJAK2) was found in AMs from Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD) patients by Westernblot and was increased after beryllium (Be) stimulation for 30 min. Moreover, the JAK2 inhibitor TG101348 significantly inhibited Be-induced CBD AMs TNFa and IFNy production. Meanwhile, overexpression of the JAK2 inhibitor SOCS 1 (suppressors of cytokine signaling) protein decreased Be-induced TNFa production from AMs. Based on this information, the Investigator hypothesizes that CBD AMs overexpress JAK2, which augments the immune response to Be and development of CBD but not BeS.

The investigators believe that these studies are highly innovative since they will undoubtedly shed light on exposure-mediated immune dysregulation in Alveolar Macrophages (AMs) that lead to disease development and likely progression and with additional study of this pathway will reveal potential biomarkers for clinical prognosis and diagnosis. The results obtained from this study will improv

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: National Jewish Health

Current Primary Outcome:

  • The primary outcome for the aims is the downregulation of Th1 cytokine TNFalpha with the inhibition of the JAK2 using siRNA and the inhibitor INCB018424, CEP-701 and TG101348 in CBD or overexpression of the JAK2 gene. [ Time Frame: year 1 ]
    As the primary outcome is the downregulation of TNFalpha level with the inhibition of the JAK2 using the inhibitor TG101348 in CBD, we expect a 50% reduction with a standard deviation of 0.2 based on our preliminary data. We will have more than 95% power with n=6 CBD patients for these aims.
  • The secondary outcomes for the aims are the changes in BeLPT and AMs phenotype from BeS, CBD and Healthy controls (HC). [ Time Frame: year 2 ]
    The investigator will use repeated measure Welch's ANOVA in SAS 9.4, which correctly accounts for the correlation between measurements and allows for comparisons within and between groups. Normalizing transformations will be performed when necessary to conform to model assumptions and Mauchly's sphericity test will be assessed and adjustments will be added to the analysis as necessary. Estimate and contrast statements will be developed to test hypotheses of interest.


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: National Jewish Health

Dates:
Date Received: October 29, 2015
Date Started: April 2015
Date Completion:
Last Updated: September 20, 2016
Last Verified: September 2016