BAFF Levels and Lupus Nephritis (LN) (BAFF)

May 10, 2024 updated by: Gloria Vasquez, Universidad de Antioquia

BAFF Levels After Cyclophosphamide and Mycophenolate Use in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

B-cell activating factor (BAFF), serves as a vital survival and differentiation factor for normal B-cell development. BAFF levels have been associated with the clinical activity of SLE in humans. BAFF plays a pathogenic role in SLE in part through T cell-dependent B cell autoantibody production. BAFF, has a role in the maintenance of memory B cells and promotes plasma cell survival. Treatment strategies involving BAFF blockade haven been studied in patients with SLE inducing overall improvement in disease activity, mainly in musculoskeletal and mucocutaneous domains leading to the approval of Belimumab for the treatment of patients with SLE without severe renal or neurological involvement.

Antibodies against CD20 molecule, (Rituximab), cyclophosphamide (CYC), and mycophenolate (MMF) have all been used for the treatment of different manifestations of SLE and both moderate and severe activity. Baseline C4 level, early normalization of complement, and reduction in proteinuria have been shown to predict renal response to therapy with MMF or CYC in lupus nephritis. With Rituximab (RTX), B cell depletion has been associated with response to treatment and relapse prediction. The elevation of serum BAFF levels after B cell depletion with RTX in SLE are associated with anti-double-stranded DNA antibody levels and disease flare. The rise of BAFF is probably due to the decrease in its receptors leading to a release of BAFF and a delayed regulation of BAFF mRNA transcription, both of which could favor the re-emergence of autoreactive B cells. It has been suggested that the rise in BAFF levels after anti-CD20 therapy might be related to flares of the disease. Additionally, the combination of anti-CD20 with anti-BAFF or antibodies against CD4, reduces the number of splenic plasma cells in mouse models and has been proven to have a lasting benefit both in lupus-prone mice and in mice with established disease. Currently, there is a lack of information regarding MMF or CYC and BAFF levels. We consider that it is fundamental to know the behavior of BAFF in patients with SLE after treatment with MMF or CYC bearing in mind the proposal of multiple experts of the possible use of sequential therapy of BAFF inhibition after B-cell depletion. Knowledge of the behavior of BAFF will allow me to better understand its implications in SLE and its therapy and postulate the use of sequence therapy with Belimumab after CYC o MF induction with the proposal to reduce the flares

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Withdrawn

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

1.3. Research question Flares of lupus nephritis are related to the behavior of BAFF levels before, during, and after induction therapy.

2. Theoretical framework B-cell activating factor (BAFF), also known as B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) serves as a vital survival and differentiation factor for normal B-cell development. There is an inverse relationship between BAFF circulating levels and the percentage and number of circulating B cells. APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand) shares substantial homology with BAFF and binds to two of the three BAFF receptors (BCMA and TACI) but not to BR3. Like BAFF, APRIL has little role in the maintenance of memory B cells but does promote plasma cell survival better than does BAFF. Both BAFF and APRIL levels behave differently after B cell depletion in SLE and rheumatoid arthritis. BAFF levels have been associated with the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in murine models and with clinical activity of SLE in humans. BAFF plays a pathogenic role in SLE in part through T cell-dependent B cell autoantibody production. Treatment strategies involving BAFF blockade haven been studied in patients with SLE inducing overall improvement in disease activity, mainly in musculoskeletal and mucocutaneous domains leading to the approval of Belimumab for the treatment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus without severe renal or neurological involvement.

Anti-CD20 antibodies (Rituximab), cyclophosphamide (CYC), and mycophenolate (MMF) have all been used for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, and both moderate and severe activity. Both MMF and CYC show a significant effect on disease activity and circulating B, T, Natural Killer cells (NK), and Natural Killer T cells (NKT) cell subsets. Baseline C4 level, early normalization of complement, and reduction in proteinuria have been shown to predict renal response to therapy with MMF or CYC in lupus nephritis. With Rituximab (RTX), B cell depletion has been associated with response to treatment and relapses. The elevation of serum BAFF levels after B cell depletion with RTX in SLE are associated with anti-double-stranded DNA antibody levels and disease flare. The rise of BAFF is probably due to the decrease in its receptors leading to a release of BAFF and a delayed regulation of BAFF messenger-RNA (mRNA) transcription, both of which could favor the re-emergence of autoreactive B cells.

It has been suggested that the rise in BAFF levels after anti-CD20 therapy might be related to flares of the disease and that repeated rituximab infusions can result in a feedback loop characterized by ever-rising BAFF levels, surges in autoantibody production and worsening of the disease. Additionally, the combination of antiCD20 with anti-BAFF or anti-CD4 antibody greatly reduces the number of splenic plasma cells in mouse models and anti-CD20 plus anti-BAFF has been proven to have a lasting benefit both in lupus-prone mice and in mice with established disease.

B-cell depletion therapy (BCDT) has been used in patients with refractory disease with failure to standard therapy through a combination of RTX and CYC, which showed an improvement in clinical and serological disease activity. Serological findings suggest that B cell clones committed to producing antinucleosome antibodies and anti-dsDNA have a relatively rapid turnover compared with cell clones producing other autoantibodies(30). BAFF levels rose in most patients at 3 months post BCDT. Those patients with an expanded autoantibody profile and raised BAFF levels at baseline had shorter responses to BCDT. Retreatment with BCDT may produce a more sustained clinical response.

Currently, there is a lack of information regarding MMF or CYC and BAFF levels without the use of concomitant RTX (for CYC) and in monotherapy (for MMF). We consider that it is fundamental to know the behavior of BAFF in patients with SLE after treatment with MMF or CYC bearing in mind the proposal of multiple experts of the possible use of sequential therapy of BAFF inhibition after B-cell depletion. Knowledge of the behavior of BAFF will allow to better understand its implications in SLE and its therapy.

3. Hypothesis Elevated BAFF levels after induction therapy with MMF or CYC is associated with disease relapse.

4. Objectives 4.1. Main objective Analyze the relationship between BAFF levels and relapses after treatment with CYC and MMF

4.2. Specific objectives

  • Describe the clinical and immuno-serological characteristics of patients with lupus nephritis at weeks 0, 12, and 24 of induction therapy.
  • Compare the effects of CYC and MMF on BAFF levels in patients with lupus nephritis in induction therapy
  • Evaluate the association between BAFF levels and remission of lupus nephritis treated with CYC and MMF.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Contacts and Locations

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Study Contact

Study Contact

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Study Contact Backup

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

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

  • Patients with SLE diagnosis that fulfill either the 1987 American College of Rheumatology Classification Criteria for SLE, 2011 Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus or 2019 EULAR/ACR Lupus Classification criteria.
  • There will not be a successive recruitment of patients. Instead, there will be a deliberate recruitment aiming to maintain the proportion of patients needed for each group.

A sample will be taken for the convenience of 30 patients with lupus nephritis by Wallace and Dubois criteria. Fifteen patients under treatment with CYC and 15 patients treated with MMF are selected according to the decision of the attending physician.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Patients are older than 18 years
  2. Patients that fulfill any of the available classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus
  3. Patients with new-onset lupus nephritis or with lupus nephritis relapse after successful remission.
  4. Patients with a diagnosis of lupus nephritis according to Wallace and Dubois criteria
  5. Patients with class III and IV lupus nephritis with or without Class V lupus nephritis.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Women with a positive pregnancy test
  2. Class I, II, V lupus nephritis without Class III or IV lupus nephritis
  3. Patients with an active malignancy or active treatment for malignancy.
  4. Patients with kidney disease with GFR <30ml / min
  5. Patients with severe leukopenia
  6. Patients with active infection

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

  • Observational Models: Case-Only
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Cyclophosphamide
Patients with induction therapy for lupus nephritis with cyclophosphamide
Other: BAFF serum levels
BAFF levels in serum in visit 0,1,2 during induction therapy
Mycophenolate
Patients with induction therapy for lupus nephritis with mycophenolate
Other: BAFF serum levels
BAFF levels in serum in visit 0,1,2 during induction therapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Levels of BAFF
Time Frame: Time 0, beginning of the induction therapy
Levels of BAFF
Time 0, beginning of the induction therapy
Levels of BAFF
Time Frame: Time 1, 12 weeks after beginning of induction therapy
Levels of BAFF
Time 1, 12 weeks after beginning of induction therapy
Levels of BAFF
Time Frame: Time 2, 24 weeks after beginning of induction therapy
Levels of BAFF
Time 2, 24 weeks after beginning of induction therapy
Lupus Clinical Manifestations
Time Frame: Time 0, beginning of the induction therapy
All clinical manifestations associated with SLE
Time 0, beginning of the induction therapy
Lupus Clinical Manifestations
Time Frame: Time 1, 12 weeks after beginning of induction therapy
All clinical manifestations associated with SLE
Time 1, 12 weeks after beginning of induction therapy
Lupus Clinical Manifestations
Time Frame: Time 2, 24 weeks after beginning of induction therapy
All clinical manifestations associated with SLE
Time 2, 24 weeks after beginning of induction therapy
Serological findings
Time Frame: Time 0, beginning of the induction therapy
Serological parameters evaluated including anti-DNA
Time 0, beginning of the induction therapy
Serological findings
Time Frame: Time 1, 12 weeks after beginning of induction therapy
Serological parameters evaluated including anti-DNA
Time 1, 12 weeks after beginning of induction therapy
Serological findings
Time Frame: Time 2, 24 weeks after beginning of induction therapy
Serological parameters evaluated including anti-DNA
Time 2, 24 weeks after beginning of induction therapy
Inflammatory cytokine levels
Time Frame: Time 0, beginning of the induction therapy
Cytokine levels IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8 e IL-6
Time 0, beginning of the induction therapy
Inflammatory cytokine levels
Time Frame: Time 1, 12 weeks after beginning of induction therapy
Cytokine levels IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8 e IL-6
Time 1, 12 weeks after beginning of induction therapy
Inflammatory cytokine levels
Time Frame: Time 2, 24 weeks after beginning of induction therapy
Cytokine levels IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8 e IL-6
Time 2, 24 weeks after beginning of induction therapy

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Universidad de Antioquia

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
ARTMEDICA

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Gloria Vasquez, MD, DrSc, Universidad de Antioquia

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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 (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 1, 2021

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 1, 2022

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 27, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 27, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 30, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 13, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 10, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • UAntioquia/GICIG/BAFF

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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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