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Enhancing Innate Anti-Viral Resistance Through a Community-Based Intervention - Generation Xchange

Not Applicable
Conditions
Virus Infection, RNA
Interventions
Behavioral: GenX intergenerational mentoring program
Registration Number
NCT05534425
Lead Sponsor
University of California, Los Angeles
Brief Summary

This randomized controlled trial will test whether a recently developed community-based intergenerational mentoring program known as Generation Xchange (GenX) can enhance antiviral resistance in older African-American women and men in a low-SES urban community. Additional studies will identify the biological processes that promote resistance to respiratory virus infections and viral disease in older African-American women and men.

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled intervention trial (planned n=160) will test whether participation in the Generation Xchange (GenX) intergenerational mentoring program can reduces vulnerability to respiratory virus infections (COVID, influenzas, colds), increase antiviral immune activity (Type I interferon responses), and reduce inflammatory immune activity in older African-American women and men living in a socioeconomically disadvantaged urban community. Blood samples will also be collected to determine which biological factors are most important in protecting older African-Americans from respiratory virus infection, and which of those factors is affected by the GenX intervention.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
160
Inclusion Criteria
  • Participating in the GenX intergenerational mentoring program
  • All GenX mentors > 50 years of age are eligible to participate in this research
  • GenX program participation requires:
  • Reside in neighborhood of GenX schools (South-Central Los Angeles)
  • Pass basic literacy and cognitive function tests
Exclusion Criteria
  • Any health condition that would put participant at risk by enrollment/participation

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Immediate GenXGenX intergenerational mentoring programParticipants immediately commence GenX program activity (intergenerational mentoring)
Delayed GenXGenX intergenerational mentoring programParticipants engage in parallel training/educational activities, and subsequently commence GenX program activity after 3 months
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Concentration of Type I interferon antiviral activity (bioassay International Units / mL)10 months

Blood cell production of Type I interferon activity will stimulated by exposure to a fixed dose of model viral protein (TruCulture Resiquimod R848 tubes) and quantifying Type I interferon concentration in the cell culture supernatant fluid using the standard Armstrong bioassay (Armstrong, J.A. Cytopathic effect inhibition assay for interferon: microculture plate assay. Methods in enzymology 78, 381-387 (1981).) Antiviral activity is quantified as International Units of Interferon activity / mL.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Respiratory virus antibody concentration (WHO international units BAU/mL)10 months

Respiratory virus infection (cold, influenza, COVID) will be assessed by multiplex IgG serological assay (MesoScale Discovery V-PLEX COVID-19 Respiratory Panel 2; https://www.mesoscale.com/products/covid-19-respiratory-panel-2-igg-k15372u/). Concentrations are quantified as WHO international Binding Antibody Units / mL.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine concentration (pg/mL)10 months

Blood plasma and blood cell culture supernatant fluids will be assayed for expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL1B, IL6, TNF) using the MesoScale Discovery U-PLEX Macrophage M1 Combo 1 hu assay (https://www.mesoscale.com/products/u-plex-macrophage-m1-combo-1-human-k15336k/). Measurement units are pg of cytokine / mL.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

UCLA School of Medicine

🇺🇸

Los Angeles, California, United States

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