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| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia | OTHER |
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We have established that the hookworm Necator americanus (Na) dramatically alters the local and systemic immune landscape of the infected human host. Consistent with the principle of desensitisation, diet managed celiac disease subjects previously infected by us with Na will be invited to receive small incremental doses of gluten as pasta (3-25 mm straw of spaghetti) over 16 weeks. Each participant will then be carefully re-assessed to determine if it is appropriate to undertake a 12-week gluten challenge.
Hypothesis The adaptive Th2/regulatory profile imposed by Na will promote gluten tolerance following a micro-dose desensitising programme.
Primary Aim: To determine the safety and efficacy of Na as a tolerising agent in celiac subjects
Specific Aim 1. Undertake a therapeutic pilot study comparing mucosal histopathology before and after a gluten challenge, to be preceded by a programmed desensitising micro-challenge using Na as a tolerising agent.
Specific Aim 2. Assess systemic and mucosal immune responses to gluten micro-challenge, Na infection, and gluten re-challenge throughout the pilot study, to be referenced against hookworm-naive people with treated and untreated celiac disease.
Specific Aim 3. Utilising blood and tissue from hookworm-naive celiac disease volunteers, undertake in vitro studies focusing on the effects of Na-derived excretory/secretory (ES) products on gluten-stimulated gut mucosal cell apoptosis, cytokine and gene profiles.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Necator americanus, gluten challenge | Experimental | Single arm, vertical. |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Necator americanus | Biological | Previously inoculated subjects will be further inoculated as previously undertaken with 20 3rd stage infective Na larvae (10 + 10 over 4 weeks). Four weeks after the 2nd inoculation, each participant will receive a micro-dose of gluten (10 mg daily) as pasta for 8 weeks, to be followed by a low-dose of gluten (50 mg daily) for 8 weeks. After this, a detailed assessment involving upper endoscopy and duodenal biopsy will be performed before deciding on an individual case basis that it is safe for the participant to proceed to challenge. A gluten challenge of 1 G (15-20 G of pasta or a ½ slice of standard white bread) twice weekly for 12 weeks will commence. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Duodenal Villus Height:Crypt Depth | Biopsies were fixed in neutral buffered formalin, processed and carefully orientated and embedded in paraffin wax. Sections (3 µm) were stained with H&E. Slides from both time-points were de-identified, shuffled and graded by Dr John Croese after which results from poorly orientated slides were verified by Dr Andrew Clouston. The Vh:Cd ratios were measured on 5 randomly selected well-orientated sites. The null hypothesis is that hookworm infection will not protect against mucosal damage following 12-week exposure to gluten in celiac disease. | Week -24 to -36 |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Intraepithelial Lymphocyte Count | Biopsies were fixed in neutral buffered formalin, processed and carefully orientated and embedded in paraffin wax. Sections (3 µm) were stained with anti-CD3. All slides were de-identified and graded by Dr John Croese. The IEL percentages were measured on 2 or more randomly selected well-orientated villi. The null hypothesis is that hookworm infection will not protect against mucosal IEL influx following 12-week exposure to gluten in celiac disease. |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| John Croese, MD | The Prince Charles Hospital, Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics | Study Director |
| Dianne Jones, BAppSc | Logan Hospital | Principal Investigator |
| Alexander Loukas, PhD | Centre for Biodiscovery and Molecular Development of Therapeutics, James Cook University | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Charles Hospital | Chermside | Queensland | 4032 | Australia |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21408161 | Background | Daveson AJ, Jones DM, Gaze S, McSorley H, Clouston A, Pascoe A, Cooke S, Speare R, Macdonald GA, Anderson R, McCarthy JS, Loukas A, Croese J. Effect of hookworm infection on wheat challenge in celiac disease--a randomised double-blinded placebo controlled trial. PLoS One. 2011 Mar 8;6(3):e17366. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017366. |
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Of 20 potential candidates, 2 could not be contacted (address changed), 1 was not interested, and 5 were unavailable (travel-2, pregnancy-2 or study-1 commitments). Twelve enrolled in September 2012. 8 committed to 3 endoscopic procedures and 2 committed to two endoscopies.
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| ID | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| FG000 | Necator Americanus, Gluten Challenge | Single arm, vertical. Necator americanus: Subjects were inoculated with 20 3rd stage Na larvae (10 + 10 over 4-8 weeks). After hookworm colonization, a micro-dose gluten challenge of 10 mg daily for 6 weeks, followed by 50 mg daily for 6 weeks was completed. After this, a detailed assessment including histology was performed to establish it safe for the participant to proceed to a low-dose gluten challenge of 25 mg daily and 1 G (15-20 G of pasta) twice weekly for 12 weeks. After low-dose challenge, a further evaluation was undertaken before inviting participants to undertake a gluten challenge of 3 G daily over for 2 weeks (preceded by a micro-dose 2 week lead-in). |
| Title | Milestones | Reasons Not Completed | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gluten Micro-challenge |
| |||||||||||||
| Low-dose Gluten Challenge |
| |||||||||||||
| High-dose Gluten Challenge |
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Mean age 53 years, range 39-67; females 9.
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| ID | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BG000 | Gluten Micro-challenge | Single arm, vertical. All twelve healthy adults enrolled subjects were successfully inoculated with hookworm and there was no serious adverse response. Individual hemoglobin levels were all normal and the group mean had significantly increased unexpectedly at completion of the study. Histology was not graded until after low-dose challenge but retrospectively confirmed enrollment Marsh scores of M0-8, M1-1, M2-2 and M3a-1. All participants were complying with a gluten-free diet, were symptomatically well and had a normal anti-tTG. |
| Units | Counts |
|---|---|
| Participants |
|
| Title | Description | Population Description | Parameter Type | Dispersion Type | Unit of Measure | Calculate Percentage | Denominator Units Selected | Denominators | Classes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical | Count of Participants |
| Type | Title | Description | Population Description | Reporting Status | Anticipated Posting Date | Parameter Type | Dispersion Type | Unit of Measure | Calculate Percentage | Time Frame | Units Analyzed | Denominator Units Selected | Arm/Group Information | Denominators | Classes | Analyses | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | Duodenal Villus Height:Crypt Depth | Biopsies were fixed in neutral buffered formalin, processed and carefully orientated and embedded in paraffin wax. Sections (3 µm) were stained with H&E. Slides from both time-points were de-identified, shuffled and graded by Dr John Croese after which results from poorly orientated slides were verified by Dr Andrew Clouston. The Vh:Cd ratios were measured on 5 randomly selected well-orientated sites. The null hypothesis is that hookworm infection will not protect against mucosal damage following 12-week exposure to gluten in celiac disease. | All 10 of 12 participants who completed micro-challenge successfully progressed and completed low-dose challenge. | Posted | Mean | 95% Confidence Interval | Ratio | Week -24 to -36 |
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| ID | Title | Description | Deaths (Affected) | Deaths (At Risk) | Serious Events (Affected) | Serious Events (At Risk) | Other Events (Affected) | Other Events (At Risk) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EG000 | Gluten Micro-challenge | Single arm, longitudinal study of responses to escalating gluten doses in people with celiac disease after infection with Necator americanus, a human hookworm. |
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| Term | Organ System | Source Vocabulary | Assessment Type | Notes | Statistical Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symptomatic gluten intolerance | Gastrointestinal disorders | Systematic Assessment | One subject experienced nausea and pain when gluten doses exceeded 25 mg/d and was advised not to continue. |
Open study. Small number. Historical controls.
| Title | Organization | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr John Croese. The Chief Investigator | The Prince Charles Hospital | +61733716164 | jcroese@bigpond.com |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D002446 | Celiac Disease |
| D000724 | Ancylostomiasis |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D008286 | Malabsorption Syndromes |
| D007410 | Intestinal Diseases |
| D005767 | Gastrointestinal Diseases |
| D004066 | Digestive System Diseases |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| C508387 | ASP-1 protein, Necator americanus |
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| Necator americanus | Biological | After completion of the previously planned challenge, volunteers will be invited to extend the gluten challenge. The extension is for 4 weeks total. The gluten challenge is stepwise: gluten 10 mg daily for one week, 50 mg daily for one week and finally 3 grams daily for 2 weeks. The outcome measure is serum tissue transglutaminase to be compared before and after the intervention. |
|
|
| Week-24 and -36 |
| Number of Participants With 2 Points Increase in Marsh Score Post GC-1g | The Marsh score is a defined but qualitative assessment assigned a value to allow for comparison. The scores were evaluated by consensus between the primary (chief) investigator and the study pathologist. The Marsh score was graded 0, 1, 2, 3A (assigned-4), 3B (-5) and 3C (-6); rage 1-6 with normal=0 and severe inflammation=6. Because the scoring is vulnerable to artefact, only a 2-point shift was regarded as a significant intra-individual change. The scores were graded after week-36 on biopsies de-identified shuffled. An upward shift was interpreted to reflect a significant worsening of gluten-associated inflammation. The comparison reported evaluated changes from baseline (week-24) to post-low-dose gluten challenge (week-24; GC-1g). The objective for using the Marsh score was to identify individuals who might have experienced a severe worsening in pathology due to GC-1g that might not be reflected in the Vh:Cd group analysis. | Longitudinal change between week-24 and week-36 |
| Serum Anti-tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies Measured as International Units/mL (IU/mL) | The trial was extended with pre-trial and mid-trial anti-tTG antibody levels used to compare with the post-trial levels. Anti-tTG is a serological measure of tissue transglutaminase-2 antibodies. In active celiac disease, levels are increased. In treated disease, levels are low (normal cut-off was <15 IU/mL). A significant increase compared to baseline in tTG can be expected 2 weeks after consuming 3g of gluten daily for 2 weeks in people with celiac disease who have been maintaining a gluten-free diet, but who are not taking other treatment. | Anti-tTG IU/mL levels pre-trial, mid-trial and after 3 gram/day gluten challenge |
|
|
| Participants |
|
| Age, Continuous | Mean | Full Range | years |
|
| Sex: Female, Male | Count of Participants | Participants |
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|
|
|
| Secondary | Intraepithelial Lymphocyte Count | Biopsies were fixed in neutral buffered formalin, processed and carefully orientated and embedded in paraffin wax. Sections (3 µm) were stained with anti-CD3. All slides were de-identified and graded by Dr John Croese. The IEL percentages were measured on 2 or more randomly selected well-orientated villi. The null hypothesis is that hookworm infection will not protect against mucosal IEL influx following 12-week exposure to gluten in celiac disease. | Posted | Mean | 95% Confidence Interval | Percentage of epithelial cells | Week-24 and -36 |
|
|
|
|
| Secondary | Number of Participants With 2 Points Increase in Marsh Score Post GC-1g | The Marsh score is a defined but qualitative assessment assigned a value to allow for comparison. The scores were evaluated by consensus between the primary (chief) investigator and the study pathologist. The Marsh score was graded 0, 1, 2, 3A (assigned-4), 3B (-5) and 3C (-6); rage 1-6 with normal=0 and severe inflammation=6. Because the scoring is vulnerable to artefact, only a 2-point shift was regarded as a significant intra-individual change. The scores were graded after week-36 on biopsies de-identified shuffled. An upward shift was interpreted to reflect a significant worsening of gluten-associated inflammation. The comparison reported evaluated changes from baseline (week-24) to post-low-dose gluten challenge (week-24; GC-1g). The objective for using the Marsh score was to identify individuals who might have experienced a severe worsening in pathology due to GC-1g that might not be reflected in the Vh:Cd group analysis. | The outcome score was the number with a 2-point increase in Marsh 3 score post GC-1g. | Posted | Number | participants | Longitudinal change between week-24 and week-36 |
|
|
|
|
| Secondary | Serum Anti-tissue Transglutaminase Antibodies Measured as International Units/mL (IU/mL) | The trial was extended with pre-trial and mid-trial anti-tTG antibody levels used to compare with the post-trial levels. Anti-tTG is a serological measure of tissue transglutaminase-2 antibodies. In active celiac disease, levels are increased. In treated disease, levels are low (normal cut-off was <15 IU/mL). A significant increase compared to baseline in tTG can be expected 2 weeks after consuming 3g of gluten daily for 2 weeks in people with celiac disease who have been maintaining a gluten-free diet, but who are not taking other treatment. | 2 of 12 participants did not progress past baseline micro-challenge, 2 of 10 participants did not progress past low-dose challenge. | Posted | Mean | 95% Confidence Interval | International Units/mL | Anti-tTG IU/mL levels pre-trial, mid-trial and after 3 gram/day gluten challenge |
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|
|
|
| 0 |
| 12 |
| 2 |
| 12 |
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| Active CeD | Gastrointestinal disorders | Non-systematic Assessment | One subject had Marsh 3a inflammation on biopsy collected immediately post-micro-challenge. Retrospective analysis established that this was likely present immediately pre-trial. |
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| D008659 | Metabolic Diseases |
| D009750 | Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases |
| D006725 | Hookworm Infections |
| D017206 | Strongylida Infections |
| D017190 | Secernentea Infections |
| D009349 | Nematode Infections |
| D006373 | Helminthiasis |
| D010272 | Parasitic Diseases |
| D007239 | Infections |
| Title | Measurements |
|---|---|
|