Tofacitinib for Immune Skin Conditions in Down Syndrome

Safety and Efficacy of Tofacitinib for Immune Skin Conditions in Down Syndrome

People with Down syndrome (DS) display widespread immune dysregulation, including several immune skin conditions. This study hypothesizes that pharmacological inhibition of the increased interferon (IFN) signaling seen in DS is safe and could improve associated skin conditions.

The study evaluates the safety and efficacy treatment with Tofacitinib, an FDA-approved drug known to block IFN signaling, in adolescents and adults with DS and an autoimmune and/or autoinflammatory skin condition. Investigators will also measure the impact of interferon inhibition on a variety of molecular markers, as well as the cognitive abilities and quality of life of participants.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Psoriasis; Down Syndrome; Vitiligo; Hidradenitis Suppurativa; Alopecia Areata; Atopic Dermatitis / Eczema
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Tofacitinib

Detailed Description

Trisomy 21 (T21) is the most common human chromosomal disorder, occurring in ~1/700 live births, leading to the condition known as Down syndrome (DS). Importantly, people with DS display widespread immune dysregulation and over half of adults with T21 are affected by one or more autoimmune conditions, including several immune skin conditions. The driving hypothesis for this study is that hyperactivation of interferon (IFN) signaling leads to myriad immune-driven diseases and immunological phenotypes in people with DS, and that pharmacological inhibition of IFN signaling could have multidimensional therapeutic benefits in this population.

This study utilizes Tofacitinib, an FDA-approved drug known to block IFN signaling and several accompanying inflammatory pathways, to reduce IFN signaling in DS and to measure its effects via multidimensional endpoints. Previous studies and current clinical trials indicate that Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, such as Tofacitinib, can block inflammatory pathways and may have beneficial effects on immune skin conditions. Further, inhibition of chronically active IFN signaling in DS with Tofacitinib may attenuate other core drivers of immune dysregulation, leading to improvements in other immune diseases and conditions common to DS that are potentially driven by inflammation, such as cognitive deficits. Investigators will test these hypotheses using a battery of immune and molecular assessments, as well as cognitive testing and quality of life measures. This clinical trial evaluates adolescent and adult participants with DS during eight study visits over an approximate five month period.

Specific Aims:

1. To define the safety profile of JAK inhibition in people with DS,
2. To determine the impact of JAK inhibition on the immune dysregulation caused by trisomy 21,
3. To define the impact of JAK inhibition on immune skin conditions in DS, and
4. To characterize the impact of JAK inhibition on cognition and quality of life in DS.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 47
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Colorado
    • Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045
      • Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 12 years to 50 years (Child, Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males or females with DS between 12 and 50 years of age who weigh at least 40 kg.

• Diagnosis of at least one active immune skin condition, including but not limited to:

  1. Moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis
  2. Alopecia areata affecting at least 25% of the scalp
  3. Moderate-to-severe hidradenitis suppurativa
  4. Moderate-to-severe psoriasis
  5. Moderate-to-severe vitiligo.
• Be willing to avoid pregnancy or fathering children.
• Must present with a study partner or legal guardian who can complete, or assist with completing, study materials as appropriate.

Exclusion Criteria

• Weigh less than 40 kg.
• Pregnancy or breast feeding.
• No study partner or legal guardian.
• Vaccination with live attenuated virus within six weeks of inclusion in the study or planned during the study.
• Clinically significant chronic or active viral infection including but not limited to HIV, hepatitis, CMV, EBV, HSV.
• Severe renal impairment.
• History of malignant solid tumor cancer within five years prior to study entry or where there is current evidence of recurrent or metastatic disease.
• Poor venous access not allowing repeated blood tests or non-compliance with venipuncture requirements.
• Prior treatment with a JAK inhibitor or with an investigational agent, device, or procedure within 21 days of enrollment.
• Concomitant treatment with other immunosuppressants (e.g. corticosteroids, methotrexate) or strong CP3A4 or CYP2C19 inhibitors or inducers (e.g. ketoconazole, fluconazole).
• Known allergies, hypersensitivity, or intolerance to Tofacitinib.
• History of thrombotic disorder.
• Superficial skin infection within 2 weeks of inclusion in the study.
• History of disseminated herpes zoster, disseminated herpes simplex, or recurrent localized dermatomal herpes zoster.
• Intravenous antimicrobial therapy within 3 months of inclusion in the study.
• Oral antimicrobials within 2 weeks of inclusion in the study.
• Participants may be excluded for other unforeseen reasons at the study doctor's discretion.
• Unable to provide assent in cases where informed consent is obtained from other authorized representative.
• Kidney transplant within the last two years
• Any history of heart attack or stroke.
• Any history of lymphoma.
• Past or current smokers.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: On Treatment; Tofacitinib 5mg oral tablets twice daily for 16 weeks	Drug: Tofacitinib; Treatment with oral Tofacitinib for immune mediated skin conditions in adults with Down syndrome; Other Names: Xeljanz

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Serious Adverse Events (SAE) Definitely Related to Tofacitinib Treatment.	Safety as measured by the number of serious adverse events definitely related to tofacitinib treatment.	Baseline to 16 weeks
Change in Whole Blood Transcriptome Interferon (IFN) Score	The Interferon Score is a composite molecular measure used to quantify activation of the interferon signaling pathway. Interferon Scores are calculated by summing standardized expression (i.e. (expression value - mean) / standard deviation) of a predefined panel of 16 interferon-stimulated genes, measured by RNA-sequencing of whole blood samples. The resulting composite value provides an integrated measure of interferon pathway activity, with higher scores indicating greater pathway activation. No clinical relevance threshold has been established.	Baseline and 16 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA)	The IGA is used to assess overall changes in severity across five skin conditions (alopecia areata, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa) scored from 0 (clear) to 4 - 5 (very severe).	Baseline and 16 weeks
Change in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)	The DLQI is used to assess participant-reported impact of skin conditions on self-image, relationships, and daily activities. Possible total scores range from 0-30, with higher scores indicating a more impaired quality of life.	Baseline and 16 weeks
Change in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) Score in Participants With Atopic Dermatitis	The EASI is used to assess changes in the extent (area) and severity of atopic dermatitis (eczema). Each of four sites (head, upper limbs, trunk, and lower limbs), are weighted by overall contribution to body surface area and separately scored by using four parameters (erythema, infiltration, excoriations, lichenification), each of which is graded on a severity scale of 0 (none) to 4 (severe), as well as degree of involvement. Possible total scores range from 0-72, with higher scores indicating a more severe involvement.	Baseline and 16 weeks
Change in Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) Score in Participants With Alopecia	The SALT is used to assess changes in degree and extent (area) of hair loss due to alopecia areata on the head. Each of four scalp sites (left side, right side, top and back) are weighted by overall contribution to scalp surface area and rated for percent involvement. Possible total scores range from 0-72, with higher scores indicating a larger affected area.	Baseline and 16 weeks
Change in Modified Sartorius Score (MSS) Score in Participants With Hidradenitis Suppurativa	The MSS is used to assess changes in areas affected by hidradenitis suppurativa. Each of seven sites (right/left axillae, right/left groin, right/left gluteal, other) are scored by number of lesions, distance between lesions, and presence of normal skin between lesions. Possible total scores range up from 0 with no maximum, with higher scores indicating a more severe involvement.	Baseline and 16 weeks
Change in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) Score in Participants With Psoriasis	The PASI is used to assess changes in extent (area) and severity of psoriasis. Each of four sites (head, upper limbs, trunk, and lower limbs) are weighted by overall contribution to body surface area and separately scored by degree of involvement and three additional parameters (erythema, induration and desquamation), each of which is graded on a severity scale of 0 (Not severe) to 4 (very severe). Possible total scores range from 0-72, with higher scores indicating a more severe involvement.	Baseline and 16 weeks
Change in Vitiligo Extent Tensity Index (VETI) in Participants With Vitiligo	The VETI is used to assess changes in extent (area) of skin affected by vitiligo. Each of five sites (head, trunk, upper limbs, lower limbs, genitalia) are weighted by overall contribution to body surface area and rated for degree of de-pigmentation scale of Stage 0 (normal skin) to Stage 5 (complete de-pigmentation plus significant hair whitening) and percent involvement. Possible scores range from 0-55.5, with a higher score indicating a higher degree of involvement.	Baseline and 16 weeks
A Composite Cytokine Score Generated Using the Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) Platform Used to Assess Inflammatory Changes in Plasma.	The Cytokine Score is a composite molecular measure used to quantify inflammatory changes. Cytokine Scores are calculated by summing standardized abundance (i.e. (abundance value - mean) / standard deviation) of a predefined panel of four inflammatory cytokines, measured in plasma samples using the Meso Scale Discovery platform. The resulting composite value provides an integrated measure of inflammatory activity, with higher scores indicating a more inflammatory state. No clinical relevance threshold has been established.	Baseline and 16 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver
• Collaborators: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Joaquin Espinosa, PhD, Linda Crnic Institute, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Rachubinski AL, Estrada BE, Norris D, Dunnick CA, Boldrick JC, Espinosa JM. Janus kinase inhibition in Down syndrome: 2 cases of therapeutic benefit for alopecia areata. JAAD Case Rep. 2019 Apr 5;5(4):365-367. doi: 10.1016/j.jdcr.2019.02.007. eCollection 2019 Apr. No abstract available.
• Pham AT, Rachubinski AL, Enriquez-Estrada B, Worek K, Griffith M, Espinosa JM. JAK inhibition for treatment of psoriatic arthritis in Down syndrome. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Sep 1;60(9):e309-e311. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab203. No abstract available.
• Rachubinski AL, Wallace E, Gurnee E, Enriquez-Estrada BA, Worek KR, Smith KP, Araya P, Waugh KA, Granrath RE, Britton E, Lyford HR, Donovan MG, Eduthan NP, Hill AA, Martin B, Sullivan KD, Patel L, Fidler DJ, Galbraith MD, Dunnick CA, Norris DA, Espinosa JM. JAK inhibition decreases the autoimmune burden in Down syndrome. Elife. 2024 Dec 31;13:RP99323. doi: 10.7554/eLife.99323.
• Rachubinski AL, Wallace E, Gurnee E, Estrada BAE, Worek KR, Smith KP, Araya P, Waugh KA, Granrath RE, Britton E, Lyford HR, Donovan MG, Eduthan NP, Hill AA, Martin B, Sullivan KD, Patel L, Fidler DJ, Galbraith MD, Dunnick CA, Norris DA, Espinosa JM. JAK inhibition decreases the autoimmune burden in Down syndrome. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Oct 16:2024.06.13.24308783. doi: 10.1101/2024.06.13.24308783.

Helpful Links

• The Crnic Institute Human Trisome Project

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 21, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): October 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 27, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 28, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): January 29, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 11, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 25, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Inflammation; Autoimmunity; Down syndrome; Interferon; JAK inhibitor; Dermatology; JAK/STAT; Skin disorder
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Immune System Diseases; Infections; Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Hypersensitivity; Skin Diseases, Papulosquamous; Congenital Abnormalities; Alopecia; Hypotrichosis; Hair Diseases; Bacterial Infections; Bacterial Infections and Mycoses; Abnormalities, Multiple; Sweat Gland Diseases; Skin Diseases, Bacterial; Skin Diseases, Infectious; Suppuration; Hypopigmentation; Pigmentation Disorders; Skin Diseases, Genetic; Skin Diseases, Eczematous; Intellectual Disability; Chromosome Disorders; Dermatitis; Hidradenitis; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Inflammation; Alopecia Areata; Hidradenitis Suppurativa; Vitiligo; Psoriasis; Dermatitis, Atopic; Eczema; Autoimmune Diseases; Skin Diseases; Down Syndrome; Janus Kinase Inhibitors; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Enzyme Inhibitors; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; tofacitinib
• Other Study ID Numbers: 19-1362; R33AR077495 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: De-identified individual participant data will be made available for all primary outcome measures.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Data will be made available upon publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Data access requests will be reviewed by the sponsor-investigator and collaborators.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF; ANALYTIC_CODE; CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No