The COX-2 Gene and the Immune System

NCT ID: NCT01678222

Last Updated: 2025-12-24

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 117 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2013-05-02

Brief Summary

Background:

• The immune system contains several different types of cells in the blood and other parts of the body. The body can fight infections well with the right balance of these cell types. The wrong balance of cell types may cause diseases, such as allergies or asthma. The COX-2 gene may help decide the balance of cell types that the body makes as part of the immune system. It may also play a role in certain immune system diseases. Researchers want to see how COX-2 affects the cells in the immune system.

Objectives:

• To study how the COX-2 gene works in the body s immune system.

Eligibility:

• Individuals 18 years of age and above who are part of the Environmental Polymorphisms Registry.

Design:

• Participants will have one study visit at the National Institutes of Health. They will collect a urine sample at home on the morning of the study visit.
• Participants will have a physical exam and medical history. They will provide a blood sample. They will also give researchers the urine sample they collected that morning.
• No treatment will be provided as part of this study.

Detailed Description

This is a cross-sectional, controlled study designed to investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) gene, also called prostaglandin endoperoxidase synthase 2 (PTGS2), on T-cell differentiation and function. Specifically, the impact of the promoter-region SNP 765G>C (rs20417) and the 3 untranslated region (UTR) SNP 8473T>C (rs5275) on T helper cell (Th) 2, Th9, and Th17 differentiation and function will be examined. Non-Hispanic, White or Black/African American, non-pregnant adults, aged 18-65 years, who are wild type (WT), with respect to both the 765G>C and 8473T>C SNPs, WT with respect to 765G>C and homozygous for 8473T>C, and homozygous for both 765G>C and 8473T>C will be recruited into a total of three genotype groups. Potential participants will be identified from the Environmental Polymorphisms Registry, contacted by recruitment letter and pre-screened for eligibility. Pre-screened individuals will provide verbal consent to withhold certadata analysis, a urine collection cup, and pre-visit instructions. Participants will attend a single study visit that will take place at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Clinical Research Unit (CRU). During this visit, written informed consent will be obtained, and there will be a final screening and eligibility determination, medical history review, vital signs, physical examination and blood and urine samples will be collected. From peripheral blood, lymphocyte subsets, prostaglandin levels, and cytokine levels will be determined; stable prostaglandin metabolites, creatinine, total protein and albumin will be measured in urine. Lymphocytes will be isolated from peripheral blood for ex vivo analyses. Demographic characteristics (i.e., age) will be compared between the groups, and when possible, recruitment will be targeted to achieve an approximate match of race and gender across the groups. The primary objective of the study is to determine whether the 765G>C or 8473T>C SNPs exhibit altered Th2, Th9 and Th17 cell differentiation by examining lymphocyte subsets in vivo. The study will also examine the impact of these two SNPs on circulating Th2/Th9/Th17 cytokine levels and prostaglandins in vivo, on differentiation of naive CD4+T-cells to Th cell subsets in vitro, and on lymphocyte production of cytokines and prostaglandins in vitro.

Conditions

Allergic Inflammation; Asthma

Keywords

Lymphocyte; Prostaglandin Endoperoxidase Synthase 2; COX-2; Natural History

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL

Study Groups

SNP

individuals who are homozygous for either the major or minor variant of both SNPs

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Participant of the Environmental Polymorphisms Registry and current contact information available
• Genotype information available for relevant 765G>C and 8473T>C COX2 polymorphisms, which indicates:

• Individuals who are WT with respect to both 765G>C and 8473T>C (N=31)
• Individuals who are WT with respect to 765G>C and homozygous for 8473T>C (N=31)
• Individuals who are homozygous for both 765G>C and 8473T>C (N=31)
• Age 18- 65 years
• Race self-identified as White or Black and Non-Hispanic ethnicity
• Willing and able to provide informed consent
• Able to comply with all protocol procedures

Exclusion Criteria

• History of infection within the preceding 1 week or an oral temperature >38 degrees C
• Current daily or chronic use of corticosteroids (systemic, inhaled and topical).
• Any current conditions known to impact peripheral white blood cell count (e.g., leukemia, lymphopenia, AIDS, other immunodeficiency disorders)
• Current daily or chronic use of systemic immunosuppressants.
• Current pregnancy or lactation
• Unwilling or unable to:

• Fast (including alcohol and caffeine-containing products) and discontinue tobacco use for 12 hours prior to the study visit
• Withhold all prescribed and over-the-counter medications and supplements the morning of the study visit, until after the visit is completed
• Refrain from taking the following medications and supplements for 7 days prior to the study visit:

• NSAIDs
• Corticosteroids (nasal, inhaled, topical or systemic)
• Fish oil and niacin supplements
• For blood draws that exceed 200ml, a hematocrit of <34% for women or <36% for men, or >56% for either gender.
• For blood draws exceeding 200ml, blood or plasma donation in the last 8 weeks

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 150 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

NIH

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Darryl C Zeldin, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

Locations

NIEHS Clinical Research Unit (CRU)

Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, United States

Countries

United States

References

Li H, Bradbury JA, Dackor RT, Edin ML, Graves JP, DeGraff LM, Wang PM, Bortner CD, Maruoka S, Lih FB, Cook DN, Tomer KB, Jetten AM, Zeldin DC. Cyclooxygenase-2 regulates Th17 cell differentiation during allergic lung inflammation. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2011 Jul 1;184(1):37-49. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201010-1637OC. Epub 2011 Apr 7.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 21474648 (View on PubMed)

McAdam BF, Catella-Lawson F, Mardini IA, Kapoor S, Lawson JA, FitzGerald GA. Systemic biosynthesis of prostacyclin by cyclooxygenase (COX)-2: the human pharmacology of a selective inhibitor of COX-2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Jan 5;96(1):272-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.96.1.272.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 9874808 (View on PubMed)

Mai J, Wang H, Yang XF. Th 17 cells interplay with Foxp3+ Tregs in regulation of inflammation and autoimmunity. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2010 Jun 1;15(3):986-1006. doi: 10.2741/3657.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 20515737 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

https://clinicalstudies.info.nih.gov/cgi/detail.cgi?B_2012-E-0190.html

NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page

Other Identifiers

12-E-0190

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

120190

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id