Influenza Vaccine Responses as a Means of Assessing Immune Competence in Chimeric Kidney/Stem Cell Transplant Recipients

Influenza infection in solid organ transplant recipients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality compared to non-transplanted controls, due in part to the effects of immunosuppression which is necessary to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ. However, transplant patients are less likely to produce antibodies when vaccinated and when they do, the peak and duration of antibody responses are reduced compared to healthy controls. There are considerable differences in the magnitude of these responses, reflecting variability in individual responses to the influenza vaccine and to the immunosuppression regimen. The investigators hypothesize that chimeric kidney transplant recipients off of immunosuppression will have post vaccine immune responses that are comparable to age and gender matched healthy controls.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Influenza
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: Influenza vaccine

Detailed Description

Influenza infection in solid organ transplant recipients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality compared to non-transplanted controls, due in part to the effects of immunosuppression which is necessary to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ. Annual influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza infection and current CDC, AST Infectious Diseases Community of Practice and American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation guidelines recommend annual influenza vaccination to all transplant recipients. However, transplant patients are less likely to produce antibodies when vaccinated and when they do, the peak and duration of antibody responses are reduced compared to healthy controls. There are considerable differences in the magnitude of these responses, reflecting variability in individual responses to the influenza vaccine and to the immunosuppression regimen.

Over the past several years, the investigators have conducted a Phase 2 clinical trial of combined kidney and stem cell transplantation that has been successful in achieving transplantation tolerance in a significant number of recipients. A central tenant for transplantation tolerance is a selective loss of immune reactivity to the allograft while preserving immune responses to all other antigens. The investigators hypothesize that chimeric kidney transplant recipients off of immunosuppression will have post vaccine immune responses that are comparable to age and gender matched healthy controls. The proposed studies aim to assess the immune competence in these fully chimeric tolerant recipients, by quantifying their T and B cell responses to the 2015-2016 inactivated influenza vaccine, quadrivalent (IIV4), standard dose and by testing whether the responding T and B cells arise from memory cells of recipient origin.

These studies will allow the investigators to quantify the influenza -specific cellular, humoral, and molecular responses to IIV4 in tolerant vs. matched controls. On days 0 and 30 days post -IIV4, the flu-specific B cell and neutralizing antibody responses, and the flu-specific IFN-gamma T cell response will be quantified. Additionally, the investigators will perform genome-wide gene expression profiling on isolated PBMC on days 0 and 30 post-IIV4 to characterize the blood response at the transcriptome level.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 45
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
      • Northwestern University Comprehensive Transplant Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 89 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults who have received either a combined kidney/stem cell transplant and have achieved chimerism or post-transplant recipients who are maintained on standard immunosuppressive therapy. Additionally, healthy controls of either gender ≥ 18 years of age will also be recruited.
• Subjects must be willing and able to receive the IIV4 and provide blood samples at research visits.
• Subjects must be willing and able to read, understand, and be capable of giving informed consent for prospective enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria

• Subjects less than 18 years of age.
• Any condition that, in the opinion of the attending physician, would place the patient at undue risk by participating. Specific conditions include but are not limited to anemia prohibitive of phlebotomy, coagulopathy or inability to receive the IIV4.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Transplant recipients (Chimeric); Adults who have received a kidney/stem cell transplant and have achieved chimerism will receive the IIV4 (influenza vaccine).	Biological: Influenza vaccine; Blood samples will be collected at research study visits at 0 and 30 days (+/- 2 days) post-IIV4 (influenza vaccine). Collection will be as follows: 45-50 ml blood at each visit (not to exceed more than three visits over a two month period).; Other Names: Fluarix
Experimental: Transplant recipients (IS); Adults who have received a kidney/stem cell transplant and are currently maintained on standard immunosuppressive therapy will receive the IIV4 (influenza vaccine).	Biological: Influenza vaccine; Blood samples will be collected at research study visits at 0 and 30 days (+/- 2 days) post-IIV4 (influenza vaccine). Collection will be as follows: 45-50 ml blood at each visit (not to exceed more than three visits over a two month period).; Other Names: Fluarix
Active Comparator: Controls; Healthy adults who meet inclusion and exclusion criteria will receive the IIV4 (influenza vaccine).	Biological: Influenza vaccine; Blood samples will be collected at research study visits at 0 and 30 days (+/- 2 days) post-IIV4 (influenza vaccine). Collection will be as follows: 45-50 ml blood at each visit (not to exceed more than three visits over a two month period).; Other Names: Fluarix

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Analysis of Immune Response in Transplant Recipient Blood Assays	To quantify the response to inactivated influenza vaccine, quadrivalent (IIV4), standard dose in up to 15 tolerance (chimeric) recipients compared to 15 matched, healthy controls and 15 matched, kidney transplant recipients on standard immunosuppression	1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Northwestern University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Joseph Leventhal, MD, PhD, Northwestern University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 1, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 19, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 2, 2015
• First Posted (Estimated): December 7, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 20, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 18, 2024
• Last Verified: March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Orthomyxoviridae Infections; Influenza, Human
• Other Study ID Numbers: STU00201741