Genomic Responses of Human Immune and Non-Immune Cells to Glucocorticoids
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02798523 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : June 14, 2016
Last Update Posted : November 21, 2022
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Background:
The immune system defends the body against bacteria and other harmful invaders. But it can overact and attack healthy cells by mistake. The group of drugs called glucocorticoids (GCs) can calm down an overactive immune system. But they often cause negative side effects. Researchers want to learn how human genes respond to GCs. Genes live inside each cell of the body. They tell our cells how to function. Researchers hope the results of this study will show them how to develop better drugs that will have the benefits of GCs without the side effects.
Objectives:
To study how human genes respond to glucocorticoid drugs.
Eligibility:
Healthy adult volunteers ages 18 64.
Design:
Participants will be screened with a medical history and physical exam. They will have a heart test and blood tests.
The study visit will last about 6 hours.
Participants will have medical history, physical exam, and 3 blood draws.
Participants will have a skin biopsy. An injection will numb the skin on one arm. Then a tool will remove a piece of skin about as big as a pencil eraser.
A GC cream will be applied to the other arm.
Participants will get the GC study drug for 30 minutes. It will be a liquid that will drip through a needle placed in an arm vein.
Participants will have a skin biopsy of the arm that had the cream applied.
Participants will have follow-up calls 1 and 4 days later. They will be asked about reactions or other health problems.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Normal Physiology | Drug: Methylprednisolone sodium succinate(Solu-Medrol) Drug: Topical methylprednisolone (Advantan emulsion 0 /1%) | Phase 1 |
Glucocorticoids are among the most frequently prescribed immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory medications worldwide. Long-term use, however, is complicated by serious non-immunologic side effects. Ongoing in vitro experiments with human primary cells in our laboratory suggest that there are indeed fundamental differences in the genomic response of immune and non-immune cells to glucocorticoids. These and other aspects of drug action at the genomic level have not been completely characterized. This study will attempt to generate a list of human genes and non-coding RNAs that are differentially expressed and regulated in response to glucocorticoids between immune and non-immune cells. These data will be used to identify transcripts, their corresponding proteins, and the molecular pathways that are best candidates for targeted intervention. Potential targets could be validated with small interfering RNA (siRNA) libraries, with the long-term goal of developing small-molecule or nanoparticlefacilitated RNA interference (RNAi) interventions that reproduce the therapeutic action of glucocorticoids in immune cells while avoiding their harmful side effects on other tissues.
Healthy volunteers will undergo baseline blood collection prior to receiving a single intravenous dose of 250 milligrams of methylprednisolone sodium succinate. Blood will be collected in one of two regimens: 1 and 2 hours or 2 and 4 hours after the start of the infusion. A skin punch biopsy may be obtained before healthy volunteers receive IV methylprednisolone. If so, topical methylprednisolone will be applied to a limited area of skin, contralateral to the site of the baseline skin biopsy, and an affitional skin biopsy will be obtained 4 hours after drug administration, from the area where topical methylprednisolone was applied. Follow-up phone calls 1 day and 1 week after discharge will document any adverse effects related to the drug or skin biopsy. Total length of individual study participation is 1-5 weeks.
Blood samples will be processed for isolation of hematopoietic cell sub-population (neutrophils, B cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, monocytes, and natural killer [NK] cells). Laboratory studies will be performed in the purified cells, with the goal of understanding the human response to glucocorticoids in vivo at the level of RNA (e.g., RNA sequencing, small -RNA-sequencing, real-time PCR), DNA (e.g., ChIP-seq, methylation analysis, DNA sequencing, genotyping, and protein (e.g., flow cytometry, mass spectrometry). At each time point, serum methylprednisolone levels will be measured and flow cytometry for standard lineage markers will be performed. Skin biopsies will be subjected to RNA isolation for RNA sequencing and small-RNA sequencing. A fragment of each skin biopsy will undergo fibroblast isolation and culture for in vitro exposure to glucocorticoids and for the generation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 35 participants |
Allocation: | Non-Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Sequential Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Basic Science |
Official Title: | Genomic Response of Human Immune and Non-Immune Cells to Glucocorticoids |
Actual Study Start Date : | January 24, 2017 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | May 31, 2022 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | November 14, 2022 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: Group A
Following collection of a 3-mm skin punch biopsy sample and a preinfusion whole-blood sample, volunteers will receive a single intravenous dose of 250 milligrams (mg) of methylprednisolone sodium succinate infused over 15 minutes, and a single application of topical methylprednisolone 0.1% to a small area (2 x 2 cm) of the skin. Whole blood samples will then be obtained serially, at 2 and 4 hours after the start of drug administration. A second skin punch biopsy will be performed 4 hours after the start of drug administration, in the area of skin where topical methylprednisolone was applied.
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Drug: Methylprednisolone sodium succinate(Solu-Medrol)
Methylprednisolone sodium succinate for injection, USP (SOLU-MEDROL sterile powder, Pfizer, Inc.) is an anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid which occurs as a white, or nearly white, odorless hygroscopic, amorphous solid. It is very soluble in water and in alcohol; it is insoluble in chloroform and is very slightly soluble in acetone. 125-milligram Act-O-Vial (AOV) System: Each 2 mL AOV (when mixed) contains methylprednisolone sodium succinate equivalent to 125 milligrams methylprednisolone; also 1.6 mg monobasic sodium phosphate anhydrous; and 17.4 mg dibasic sodium phosphate dried. Drug: Topical methylprednisolone (Advantan emulsion 0 /1%) 1 g Advantan emulsion 0.1% (Bayer) contains methylprednisolone aceponate (21-acetoxy-11beta-hydroxy-6alpha-methyl-17-propionyloxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione) 1 mg, as the active ingredient. It is an oil-in-water emulsion containing medium chain triglycerides, caprylic-capric-stearic triglyceride, polyoxyethylene alcohol 2-stearylether, polyoxyethylene alcohol-21-stearylether, benzyl alcohol, disodium edetate, glycerol, and purified water. |
Experimental: Group B
Following collection of a pre-infusion whole- blood sample, volunteers will receive a single intravenousdose of 250 milligrams (mg) of methylprednisolone sodium succinate infused over 15 minutes. Whole-blood samples will then be obtained serially, at 1 and 2 hours after the start of drug administration.
|
Drug: Methylprednisolone sodium succinate(Solu-Medrol)
Methylprednisolone sodium succinate for injection, USP (SOLU-MEDROL sterile powder, Pfizer, Inc.) is an anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid which occurs as a white, or nearly white, odorless hygroscopic, amorphous solid. It is very soluble in water and in alcohol; it is insoluble in chloroform and is very slightly soluble in acetone. 125-milligram Act-O-Vial (AOV) System: Each 2 mL AOV (when mixed) contains methylprednisolone sodium succinate equivalent to 125 milligrams methylprednisolone; also 1.6 mg monobasic sodium phosphate anhydrous; and 17.4 mg dibasic sodium phosphate dried. |
- A list of human genes and non-coding RNAs that are differentially expressed and regulated in response to glucocorticoids between immune and non-immune cells [ Time Frame: 3 years ]Upon differential expression analysis, we will generate a list of the human genes that respond to glucocorticoids in each of the cell types studied.
- To identify potential targets for small-molecule or nanoparticle- facilitated RNA interference interventions that reproduce the therapeutic action of glucocorticoids while avoiding harmful effects [ Time Frame: 3 years ]After functional studies on a subset of the genes that respond to glucocorticoids, we will identify those that are potential targets fortherapeutic interventions that mimic the effects of glucocorticoids on one or more cell types.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 64 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
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INCLUSION CRITERIA:
- Age 18 to 64 years
- Willingness to have samples stored for future research
- Willingness to undergo genetic testing
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
- Body Mass Index less than 18 or greater than 35
- Difficult peripheral venous access (as determined by study staff at screening)
- History of severe allergic reaction to glucocorticoids
- History of autoimmune or autoinflammatory disease
- Active solid or hematologic malgnancy
- History of a skin condition (such as psoriasis, pemphigus, or atopic dermatitis) that could affect the results of the transcriptional analysis of the skin biopsy samples
- Diabetes mellitus
- Cancer chemotherapy within the past 5 years
- Surgery within the past 8 weeks
- History of recent (within the past 30 days) infection
- A positive test for human immunodeficiency virus, or hepatitis A, B or C virus infection (viral markers hepatitis screen, which includes HBsAg, anti-HCV IgG, anti-HAV IgM).
- A positive or indeterminate test for latent tuberculosis (interferon gamma release assay)
- History of parasitic, amebic, fungal or mycobacterial infections, or other possible latent infections
- Coagulation test (PT and PTT) results outside of normal range
- History of a bleeding disorder
- Use of a glucocorticoid (including topical or inhaled), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (including aspirin), an anti-epileptic drug, an anticoagulant, a statin, fluoxetine, diltiazem, amiodarone, clarithromycin, ketoconazole, or St. John s wort, within the past 30 days
- Vaccination within the past 30 days
- Receipt of an immunosuppressant or immunomodulatory drug within the past 30 days
- Pregnancy, current or within the past 90 days, or trying to become pregnant during the study
- Current breastfeeding
- Complete blood count (CBC) and/or acute care panel values are both outside of the NIH Department of Laboratory Medicine normal reference range and deemed clinically significant by the principal investigator
- Any Electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormality that is clinically significant
- Any condition that, in the investigator s opinion, may put the participant at undue risk or compromise the study s scientific objectives
- Participation in a clinical protocol which includes an intervention that, in the opinion of the investigator, may affect the results of the current study

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT02798523
United States, Maryland | |
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center | |
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892 |
Principal Investigator: | Luis M Franco, M.D. | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) |
Publications:
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT02798523 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
160126 16-I-0126 |
First Posted: | June 14, 2016 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | November 21, 2022 |
Last Verified: | November 14, 2022 |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Methylprednisolone Immunologic Infusion Topical Intravenous |
Methylprednisolone Methylprednisolone Acetate Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate Prednisolone Prednisolone acetate Methylprednisolone aceponate Prednisolone hemisuccinate Prednisolone phosphate Anti-Inflammatory Agents Antiemetics Autonomic Agents |
Peripheral Nervous System Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs Gastrointestinal Agents Glucocorticoids Hormones Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists Neuroprotective Agents Protective Agents Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal Antineoplastic Agents |