Influenza Vaccine Responses as a Means of Assessing Immune Competence in Chimeric Kidney/Stem Cell Transplant Recipients

Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Influenza
• Interventions: Biological: Influenza vaccine

• Registration Number: NCT02623075
• Lead Sponsor: Northwestern University

Brief Summary

Influenza infection in solid organ transplant recipients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality compared to non-transplanted controls, due in part to the effects of immunosuppression which is necessary to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ. However, transplant patients are less likely to produce antibodies when vaccinated and when they do, the peak and duration of antibody responses are reduced compared to healthy controls. There are considerable differences in the magnitude of these responses, reflecting variability in individual responses to the influenza vaccine and to the immunosuppression regimen. The investigators hypothesize that chimeric kidney transplant recipients off of immunosuppression will have post vaccine immune responses that are comparable to age and gender matched healthy controls.

Detailed Description

Influenza infection in solid organ transplant recipients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality compared to non-transplanted controls, due in part to the effects of immunosuppression which is necessary to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ. Annual influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza infection and current CDC, AST Infectious Diseases Community of Practice and American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation guidelines recommend annual influenza vaccination to all transplant recipients. However, transplant patients are less likely to produce antibodies when vaccinated and when they do, the peak and duration of antibody responses are reduced compared to healthy controls. There are considerable differences in the magnitude of these responses, reflecting variability in individual responses to the influenza vaccine and to the immunosuppression regimen.

Over the past several years, the investigators have conducted a Phase 2 clinical trial of combined kidney and stem cell transplantation that has been successful in achieving transplantation tolerance in a significant number of recipients. A central tenant for transplantation tolerance is a selective loss of immune reactivity to the allograft while preserving immune responses to all other antigens. The investigators hypothesize that chimeric kidney transplant recipients off of immunosuppression will have post vaccine immune responses that are comparable to age and gender matched healthy controls. The proposed studies aim to assess the immune competence in these fully chimeric tolerant recipients, by quantifying their T and B cell responses to the 2015-2016 inactivated influenza vaccine, quadrivalent (IIV4), standard dose and by testing whether the responding T and B cells arise from memory cells of recipient origin.

These studies will allow the investigators to quantify the influenza -specific cellular, humoral, and molecular responses to IIV4 in tolerant vs. matched controls. On days 0 and 30 days post -IIV4, the flu-specific B cell and neutralizing antibody responses, and the flu-specific IFN-gamma T cell response will be quantified. Additionally, the investigators will perform genome-wide gene expression profiling on isolated PBMC on days 0 and 30 post-IIV4 to characterize the blood response at the transcriptome level.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-10
• Study First Submitted: 2015-11-19
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-12-02
• Study First Posted: 2015-12-07
• Primary Completion: 2022-07
• Study Completion: 2023-12
• Status Verified: 2024-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-03-18
• Last Update Posted: 2024-03-20

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 45

Inclusion Criteria

• Adults who have received either a combined kidney/stem cell transplant and have achieved chimerism or post-transplant recipients who are maintained on standard immunosuppressive therapy. Additionally, healthy controls of either gender ≥ 18 years of age will also be recruited.
• Subjects must be willing and able to receive the IIV4 and provide blood samples at research visits.
• Subjects must be willing and able to read, understand, and be capable of giving informed consent for prospective enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria

• Subjects less than 18 years of age.
• Any condition that, in the opinion of the attending physician, would place the patient at undue risk by participating. Specific conditions include but are not limited to anemia prohibitive of phlebotomy, coagulopathy or inability to receive the IIV4.

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Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Transplant recipients (IS)	Influenza vaccine	Adults who have received a kidney/stem cell transplant and are currently maintained on standard immunosuppressive therapy will receive the IIV4 (influenza vaccine).
Controls	Influenza vaccine	Healthy adults who meet inclusion and exclusion criteria will receive the IIV4 (influenza vaccine).
Transplant recipients (Chimeric)	Influenza vaccine	Adults who have received a kidney/stem cell transplant and have achieved chimerism will receive the IIV4 (influenza vaccine).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Analysis of Immune Response in Transplant Recipient Blood Assays	1 year	To quantify the response to inactivated influenza vaccine, quadrivalent (IIV4), standard dose in up to 15 tolerance (chimeric) recipients compared to 15 matched, healthy controls and 15 matched, kidney transplant recipients on standard immunosuppression

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Northwestern University Comprehensive Transplant Center; 🇺🇸 Chicago, Illinois, United States