The Role of the Gut Metagenome on the Development of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

April 17, 2023 updated by: University Hospital Inselspital, Berne
The primary objective of this study is to assess whether compositional and functional alterations of the gut metagenome may be related to AMD. The primary variable for this assessment is the composition of the gut metagenome which will be analyzed by shotgun sequencing to characterize the faecal metagenome. The secondary endpoint is to assess whether single nucleotide polymorphisms in CFH, ARMS2, C3, PLEKHA1, HTRA-1, VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGFR and APOE genes which have been shown to be risk factors for the development of AMD and other macular diseases correlate with alterations in the gut metagenome .

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most frequent cause of blindness in the elderly. Despite major research efforts in the last decades the etiology of AMD remains largely undefined and therefore treatment options are only very limited. However, there is evidence that nutrition and inflammation play a role in the pathogenesis of AMD . The latter is also corroborated by the finding that single nucleotide polymorphism in the gene encoding complement factor H is associated with AMD . In addition to CHF other genes such as ARMS2, C3, PLEKHA1, HTRA-1, VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGFR and APOE have been associated with development of AMD. Recent findings have implicated the gut microbiota as a contributor of metabolic diseases through the modulation of host metabolism and inflammation . Gut bacteria use mostly fermentation to generate energy, converting sugars, in part, to short-chain fatty acid, that are used by the host as energy source. Beyond short-chain fatty acids gut bacteria can provide some amino acids and contribute certain vitamins such as biotin to the host . The investigators propose to investigate whether compositional and functional alterations of the gut microbiota are a risk factor for developing AMD.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Anticipated)

1200

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Bern, Switzerland, 3010
        • Inselspital Bern, Department of Ophthalmology

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with age related macular degeneration (AMD)

Description

Inclusion criteria:

  • Subject must be willing to give written informed consent and willing to provide blood and stool probes
  • Patients with clinically confirmed AMD 18 years of age or greater
  • Probands with no signs of AMD 18 years of age or greater

Exclusion criteria:

  • Smoking
  • Chronic inflammatory disease (autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematodes, chronic inflammatory bowel disease)
  • Diabetes as defined by The World Health Organization (WHO) criteria
  • Treated hyperlipidemia
  • Obesity with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30
  • Recent (3 month) history of use of systemic antibiotics
  • Opacities of ocular media excluding detailed observation of the retina

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
age related macular degeneration
metagenome AMD
metagenome
controls
metagenome controls
metagenome

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
taxonomic and functional characterization of gut microbiota
Time Frame: 3 years
3 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Gut-microbiota-based AMD classification
Time Frame: 3 years
3 years
AMD-associated gut microbial markers
Time Frame: 3 years
3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Martin Zinkernagel, M.D, PhD, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland
  • Principal Investigator: Martin S Zinkernagel, MD, PhD, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland
  • Study Director: Martin Fiedler, MD, University Hospital Bern, Switzerland

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

December 1, 2013

Primary Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2023

Study Completion (Anticipated)

December 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 28, 2015

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 5, 2015

First Posted (Estimate)

May 8, 2015

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 18, 2023

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 17, 2023

Last Verified

April 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • KEK BE 205/13, PB_2016-01922

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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