Analysis of T- and B-Cell Subpopulations in Membranous Nephropathy

NCT ID: NCT05894512

Last Updated: 2025-05-01

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

48 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-06-01

Study Completion Date

2026-06-01

Brief Summary

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The aim of this observational study is to provide analysis of T and B lymphocyte subgroups in peripheral blood samples of patients with primary membranous nephropathy (MN). A search for disease-related circulating antibodies \[anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody (anti-PLA2R) and anti-thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing 7A antibody (anti-THSD7A)\] in patients' sera is also planned.

The main questions to answer are:

1. What is the relationship of these cell populations and their distribution during follow-up with treatment, treatment responses, and relapses?
2. What is the relationship of the cell populations with anti-PLA2R (or anti-THSD7A) antibody levels?

Participants will provide peripheral venous blood samples at pre-designated regular intervals.

The research team will compare results of the primary MN group with two control groups (IgA nephropathy and healthy volunteer groups) to see if the findings are specific for primary MN.

Detailed Description

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Primary membranous nephropathy (MN), which is one of the most common causes of nephrotic syndrome in adults, is an autoimmune disease characterized with remissions and exacerbations. About half of the patients who do not go into remission progress to end-stage kidney disease.

In recent years, a lot of progress has been made in the fields of nephrology and immunology regarding primary MN. The process, which began with the detection of autoantibodies against the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) in approximately 70% of the patients, continued with the discovery of new molecules for diagnosis and follow-up. However, despite all these advances, studies based on the analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with primary MN are very few: Rosenzwajg et al. analyzed lymphocyte subgroups in 25 MN patients and 27 healthy controls, and showed that regulatory T cells were significantly decreased in patients, naive B cells were increased, and memory B cells were decreased (Rosenzwajg et al. Kidney Int 2017). In 2020, Cantarelli et al. performed an extensive analysis in 30 patients with MN, showing that regulator B cells were increased in the MN group (Cantarelli et al. Kidney Int Rep 2020). These studies were generally cross-sectional or sampling was performed at a maximum of 6 months of follow-up. More studies based on long-term follow-up are needed.

Therefore, the aim of this observational study is to provide analysis of T and B lymphocyte subgroups in peripheral blood samples of patients with primary MN. A search for disease-related circulating antibodies \[anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody (anti-PLA2R) and anti-thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing 7A antibody (anti-THSD7A)\] in patients' sera is also planned. It is designed to investigate the relationship of these cell populations and their distribution during follow-up with treatment, treatment responses, and relapses. The relationship of cell populations with antibody levels over time will also be examined.

By investigating the distribution of T and B lymphocyte subgroups in patients with primary MN during the follow-up, and its relationship with treatment, treatment responses, and relapses, it is expected to better elucidate the pathogenesis of the disease and to detect cell changes suggestive of remission and recurrence.

Conditions

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Membranous Nephropathy Membranous Nephropathy - PLA2R Induced Membranous Nephropathy - THSD7A Induced

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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Study Group (Primary Membranous Nephropathy)

Patients with biopsy-proven primary membranous nephropathy will be included (n=18).

Samples will be collected from patients diagnosed with primary MN before starting conventional immunosuppressive therapy with calcineurin inhibitors (CNI) and corticosteroids (CS) and at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after starting the treatment.

In case of failure after treatment with CNIs and CS treatment, rituximab (RTX) is used. If patient switches to RTX, samples will be taken before and 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after the first dose of RTX.

If relapse occurs, sampling will be done regardless of the timing.

Treatment decisions will solely be made in line with the guidelines, and there will be no intervention.

No interventions assigned to this group

Control Group 1 (IgA Nephropathy)

After the patient group sampling is completed, a diseased control group will be formed from patients with primary IgA nephropathy according to the distribution of age and sex (n=15).

Samples will be collected from the patients for one time only (cross-sectional sampling).

No interventions assigned to this group

Control Group 2 (Healthy Volunteers)

After the patient group sampling is completed, a healthy control group will be formed from healthy volunteers according to the distribution of age and sex (n=15).

Samples will be collected from healthy volunteers for one time only (cross-sectional sampling).

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Having a diagnosis of primary membranous nephropathy (patient group).
* Having a diagnosis of primary IgA nephropathy (diseased control group).
* Being healthy (healthy control group).
* Agreeing to participate in the research (informed consent).

Exclusion Criteria

* Refusing to participate in the research.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Istanbul University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Safak Mirioglu

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Suzan Adin Cinar, PhD

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Istanbul University

Safak Mirioglu, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Istanbul University

Locations

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Istanbul University

Istanbul, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Site Status

Countries

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Turkey (Türkiye)

References

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Rosenzwajg M, Languille E, Debiec H, Hygino J, Dahan K, Simon T, Klatzmann D, Ronco P. B- and T-cell subpopulations in patients with severe idiopathic membranous nephropathy may predict an early response to rituximab. Kidney Int. 2017 Jul;92(1):227-237. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2017.01.012. Epub 2017 Mar 15.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28318628 (View on PubMed)

Cantarelli C, Jarque M, Angeletti A, Manrique J, Hartzell S, O'Donnell T, Merritt E, Laserson U, Perin L, Donadei C, Anderson L, Fischman C, Chan E, Draibe J, Fulladosa X, Torras J, Riella LV, La Manna G, Fiaccadori E, Maggiore U, Bestard O, Cravedi P. A Comprehensive Phenotypic and Functional Immune Analysis Unravels Circulating Anti-Phospholipase A2 Receptor Antibody Secreting Cells in Membranous Nephropathy Patients. Kidney Int Rep. 2020 Aug 1;5(10):1764-1776. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2020.07.028. eCollection 2020 Oct.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33102969 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2023/887

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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