Intranasal Inhalations of M2 Macrophage Soluble Factors in Children With Developmental Speech Disorders

Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Language; Developmental Disorder, Receptive; Speech Disorders in Children; Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder; Language Delay; Language; Developmental Disorder, Expressive; Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Interventions: Biological: Bioactive Factors, Produced by M2 Type Macrophages (M2-BFs).

• Registration Number: NCT04689282
• Lead Sponsor: Russian Academy of Medical Sciences

Brief Summary

The investigators have designed an innovative proof-of-concept trial designed to provide data as to whether the speech difficulties in children with developmental dysphasia (DD) are improved with intranasal inhalations of bioactive factors (BF), produced by macrophages of M2 phenotype (M2-BFs). The rationale for this approach is the ability of central nervous system (CNS) to repair and the important role of macrophages in the regulation of this process. It was found that type 2 macrophages (M2) have anti-inflammatory and neurorestorative potential, in contrast to pro-inflammatory and neurotoxic effects of М1 cells. The influence of M2 is largely realized through the production of a wide spectrum of bioactive factors (cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, neuropeptides, microvesicles etc) that inhibit inflammation, protect neurons from apoptosis, stimulate neurogenesis, the growth and remyelination of axons, the formation of new synapses and activate angiogenesis. This study uses M2-BFs, as therapeutic tool, and intranasal administration focusing on nose to brain transport, as a mode of delivery. Expected clinical effects in treated children: improvement of speech understanding, word formation, grammatical structure of speech and formation of coherent speech.

Detailed Description

Neuroinflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of any damage to the central nervous system (CNS) profoundly affecting the ability of neural cells to survive and to regenerate. Macrophages play a key role in the regulation of neuroinflammation, but their role is ambiguous. In fact, macrophages can both induce neuronal and glial toxicity and promote tissue repair. The opposite effects of macrophages are largely due to their plasticity and functional heterogeneity. Thus, classical pro-inflammatory macrophages (M1) are tissue-destructive, while anti-inflammatory (M2) macrophages mediate tissue repair. In addition, M2 predominantly induce the Th2 response, which is particularly beneficial in CNS repair. Using low serum conditions the investigators have generated M2-like macrophages and evaluated their phenotypic and functional features \[1\]. The data indicate that M2, in contrast to pro-inflammatory M1, produced significantly lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6, IL-18, IL-12), chemokines (IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1-1) and Th1/Th2-cytokines (interferon-γ, IL-2, IL-4) coupled with a high IL-10 level. M2 were capable of producing neurotrophic (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, insulin-like growth factor-1), angiogenic (vascular endothelial growth factor), and other growth factors (erythropoietin, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor) with neuroprotective and regenerative activity.

Pilot clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and clinical efficacy of intrathecal administration of M2 in children with severe cerebral palsy \[2, 3\] and in nonacute stroke patients \[4\]. Moreover, intranasal delivery of M2 macrophage-derived soluble products reduces neuropsychological deficit in patients with cerebrovascular disease \[5\]. Given this data, the investigators expect that intranasal administration of the M2-BFs (Bioactive Factors) will reduce the severity of speech disorders in children, including improving speech understanding, sensorimotor speech level, word formation skills, as well as the formation of the grammatical structure of speech and coherent speech. Of note, intranasal administration of M2 soluble factors allow to delivery bioactive agents to brain through the olfactory and trigeminal ways across brain-blood barrier.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2020-02-01
• Study First Submitted: 2020-12-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-12-29
• Study First Posted: 2020-12-30
• Primary Completion: 2021-09-01
• Study Completion: 2021-09-01
• Status Verified: 2022-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-04-25
• Last Update Posted: 2022-05-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 14

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 3-18
• Speech disorders verified by speech therapist and neurologist
• Adequate hearing/vision to follow conversation
• Russian speaker
• A written informed consent of the parents/close relatives

Exclusion Criteria

• Acute infectious disease (bacterial, fungal, or viral)
• Seizures
• Intolerance to gentamicin and/or multiple drug allergies
• Participation in other clinical trials

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intranasal M2-BFs	Bioactive Factors, Produced by M2 Type Macrophages (M2-BFs).	Intranasally-Administered Bioactive Factors, Produced by M2 Type Macrophages (M2-BFs). M2 were generated in vitro from peripheral blood of a parent during 7 days. Cell-free culture medium, containing M2-BFs, was collected, and aliquots of 2 mL/vial were cryopreserved. 30 children with speech disorders will receive their first doses (n=2-3) of M2-BFs in Clinic and wait 2 hrs to determine any short-time adverse effects of inhaled dose. The subsequent course of intranasal inhalations (once a day up to 30 days) performed as outpatient treatment.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in the severity of speech disorders according to Speech Assessment Scale (SAS)	Baseline and 6 months after treatment	Speech Assessment Scale (SAS) is used to assess language development in children in six functional domains: Speech Comprehension; Sensomotor speech level; Grammatical structure of speech and inflection; Vocabulary and vocabulary skills; Connected speech; Gross and fine motor skills. Max total score:160 points (units of scale). Clinical improvement is manifested in an enhancement in the SAS score.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The number of patients with adverse events	up to 6 months after treatment	Occurrence of adverse events including allergic, toxic, inflammatory reactions; neurological worsening; seizures

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Institute of Fundamental and Clinical Immunology; 🇷🇺 Novosibirsk, Russian Federation