AYLo - AutoimmunitY and Loss of y (AYLo)

April 7, 2025 updated by: Valentin Schäfer, University of Bonn

Investigating the Role of Hematopoietic Mutations and Mosaic Mutation in the Y Chromosome in Autoimmune Rheumatologic Diseases

The AYLo study (AutoimmunitY and Loss of y - Investigating the Role of Hematopoietic Mutations and Mosaic Mutation in the Y Chromosome in Autoimmune Rheumatologic Diseases) aims to systematically investigate hematopoietic mutations, such as hematopoietic (mosaic) loss of the Y chromosome (mLOY), focusing on their underlying causes, pathophysiological significance, patterns of manifestation, and impact on disease progression in autoimmune, rheumatologic disorders. This research seeks to bridge existing knowledge gaps by exploring how such mutations influence immune homeostasis, cellular function, and susceptibility to inflammation-driven pathologies.

Through the integration of advanced immunological profiling, the study aspires to uncover key mechanisms that drive the initiation, progression, and complications of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. These analyses will combine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) arrays, multiplex assays, transcriptomics, and flow cytometry staining of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to delineate the interplay between hematopoietic mutations and immune dysregulation.

A further objective is the development of a multimodal framework for disease-specific characterization, enabling precise mapping of mutation-driven phenotypes across diverse autoimmune conditions. This framework will incorporate clinical, molecular, and imaging data.

Additionally, the AYLo study aims to explore the potential role of mLOY and other hematopoietic mutations as biomarkers for disease stratification, prognosis, and therapeutic response. The findings may open avenues for personalized treatment approaches, leveraging the molecular insights to inform targeted interventions and improve patient outcomes in autoimmune rheumatic disorders.

By integrating translational and basic science approaches, this study has the potential to redefine current paradigms in autoimmune disease research and therapy.

Study Overview

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

500

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

    • NRW
      • Bonn, NRW, Germany, 53127
        • Recruiting
        • Department of rheumatology
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Valentin Sebastian Schäfer, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Simon Michael Petzinna, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Raul Nicolas Jamin, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Sebastian Zimmer, MD

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population includes male participants aged 50 years or older, divided into two groups: individuals with specific medical conditions (cases) and healthy controls.

  1. Participants must have a diagnosis confirmed by the treating physician of one or more of the following conditions:

    Arthritis (RA, PsA), CTD (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE], systemic sclerosis, Sjögren's syndrome, mixed connective tissue diseases), vasculitis ( eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis [eGPA], granulomatosis with polyangiitis [GPA], microscopic polyangiitis [MPA], IgG4-related disease, GCA + PMR), sarcoidosis, COPD, ILD, asthma bronchial

  2. Healthy Controls: Healthy male participants aged 50 years or older without any of the following conditions:

    Autoimmune or rheumatological diseases Pulmonary preconditions

  3. Exclusion Criteria:

For both groups, females and individuals younger than 50 years are excluded.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male
  • > 50 years
  • Diagnosis of arthritis (RA, PsA), collagen diseases (SLE, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren's syndrome, mixed connective tissue diseases), vasculitis (eGPA, GPA, MPA, IgG4-related disease, GCA, PMR), sarcoidosis, COPD, ILD or asthma bronchiale confirmed by the treating physician.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Female
  • < 50 years

Inclusion Criteria (Healthy controls):

  • Male
  • > 50 years

Exclusion Criteria (Healthy controls):

  • Female
  • < 50 years
  • autoimmune, rheumatological diease
  • pulmonary precondition

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
Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA)
Patients with GCA (cross sectional, newly diagnosed with follow-up after twelve months).
Utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping mosaic loss of y (mLOY) of individual patient will be assessed.
3'mRNA sequencing analyzes gene expression profiles related to the immune response in different study cohorts, aiding in understanding the genetic underpinnings of inflammation and its association with mLOY.
Used to measure cytokine levels in the serum of investigated patients, aiding in profiling inflammatory markers that are indicative of disease activity, response to treatment and consequence of mLOY..
Employed to analyze immune cell phenotypes in investigated cohorts. This test helps identify various immune cell subsets and their activation states, which are critical for understanding disease mechanisms and its association with mLOY.
Serum Chemistry
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)
Patients with PMR (cross sectional, newly diagnosed with follow-up after twelve months).
Utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping mosaic loss of y (mLOY) of individual patient will be assessed.
3'mRNA sequencing analyzes gene expression profiles related to the immune response in different study cohorts, aiding in understanding the genetic underpinnings of inflammation and its association with mLOY.
Used to measure cytokine levels in the serum of investigated patients, aiding in profiling inflammatory markers that are indicative of disease activity, response to treatment and consequence of mLOY..
Employed to analyze immune cell phenotypes in investigated cohorts. This test helps identify various immune cell subsets and their activation states, which are critical for understanding disease mechanisms and its association with mLOY.
Serum Chemistry
ANCA Associated Vasculitis (AAV)
Patients with AAV (cross sectional, newly diagnosed with follow-up after twelve months).
Utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping mosaic loss of y (mLOY) of individual patient will be assessed.
3'mRNA sequencing analyzes gene expression profiles related to the immune response in different study cohorts, aiding in understanding the genetic underpinnings of inflammation and its association with mLOY.
Used to measure cytokine levels in the serum of investigated patients, aiding in profiling inflammatory markers that are indicative of disease activity, response to treatment and consequence of mLOY..
Employed to analyze immune cell phenotypes in investigated cohorts. This test helps identify various immune cell subsets and their activation states, which are critical for understanding disease mechanisms and its association with mLOY.
Serum Chemistry
Results of routine clinical assessment of pulmonary involvement (such as lung ultrasound, computed tomography, chest x-ray, whole-body plethysmography) will be compared to mLOY, ELISA/ Legendplex/ flow cytometry/ transcriptome analysis results.
IgG4 Related Diseases
Patients with IgG4 Related Diseases (cross sectional, newly diagnosed with follow-up after twelve months).
Utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping mosaic loss of y (mLOY) of individual patient will be assessed.
3'mRNA sequencing analyzes gene expression profiles related to the immune response in different study cohorts, aiding in understanding the genetic underpinnings of inflammation and its association with mLOY.
Used to measure cytokine levels in the serum of investigated patients, aiding in profiling inflammatory markers that are indicative of disease activity, response to treatment and consequence of mLOY..
Employed to analyze immune cell phenotypes in investigated cohorts. This test helps identify various immune cell subsets and their activation states, which are critical for understanding disease mechanisms and its association with mLOY.
Serum Chemistry
Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies (IIM)
Patients with IIM (cross sectional, newly diagnosed with follow-up after twelve months).
Utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping mosaic loss of y (mLOY) of individual patient will be assessed.
3'mRNA sequencing analyzes gene expression profiles related to the immune response in different study cohorts, aiding in understanding the genetic underpinnings of inflammation and its association with mLOY.
Used to measure cytokine levels in the serum of investigated patients, aiding in profiling inflammatory markers that are indicative of disease activity, response to treatment and consequence of mLOY..
Employed to analyze immune cell phenotypes in investigated cohorts. This test helps identify various immune cell subsets and their activation states, which are critical for understanding disease mechanisms and its association with mLOY.
Serum Chemistry
Results of routine clinical assessment of pulmonary involvement (such as lung ultrasound, computed tomography, chest x-ray, whole-body plethysmography) will be compared to mLOY, ELISA/ Legendplex/ flow cytometry/ transcriptome analysis results.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Patients with RA (cross sectional, newly diagnosed with follow-up after twelve months).
Utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping mosaic loss of y (mLOY) of individual patient will be assessed.
3'mRNA sequencing analyzes gene expression profiles related to the immune response in different study cohorts, aiding in understanding the genetic underpinnings of inflammation and its association with mLOY.
Used to measure cytokine levels in the serum of investigated patients, aiding in profiling inflammatory markers that are indicative of disease activity, response to treatment and consequence of mLOY..
Employed to analyze immune cell phenotypes in investigated cohorts. This test helps identify various immune cell subsets and their activation states, which are critical for understanding disease mechanisms and its association with mLOY.
Serum Chemistry
Results of routine clinical assessment of pulmonary involvement (such as lung ultrasound, computed tomography, chest x-ray, whole-body plethysmography) will be compared to mLOY, ELISA/ Legendplex/ flow cytometry/ transcriptome analysis results.
Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)
Patients with PsA (cross sectional, newly diagnosed with follow-up after twelve months).
Utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping mosaic loss of y (mLOY) of individual patient will be assessed.
3'mRNA sequencing analyzes gene expression profiles related to the immune response in different study cohorts, aiding in understanding the genetic underpinnings of inflammation and its association with mLOY.
Used to measure cytokine levels in the serum of investigated patients, aiding in profiling inflammatory markers that are indicative of disease activity, response to treatment and consequence of mLOY..
Employed to analyze immune cell phenotypes in investigated cohorts. This test helps identify various immune cell subsets and their activation states, which are critical for understanding disease mechanisms and its association with mLOY.
Serum Chemistry
Results of routine clinical assessment of pulmonary involvement (such as lung ultrasound, computed tomography, chest x-ray, whole-body plethysmography) will be compared to mLOY, ELISA/ Legendplex/ flow cytometry/ transcriptome analysis results.
Connective Tissue Diseases (CTD)
Patients with CTD (cross sectional, newly diagnosed with follow-up after twelve months).
Utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping mosaic loss of y (mLOY) of individual patient will be assessed.
3'mRNA sequencing analyzes gene expression profiles related to the immune response in different study cohorts, aiding in understanding the genetic underpinnings of inflammation and its association with mLOY.
Used to measure cytokine levels in the serum of investigated patients, aiding in profiling inflammatory markers that are indicative of disease activity, response to treatment and consequence of mLOY..
Employed to analyze immune cell phenotypes in investigated cohorts. This test helps identify various immune cell subsets and their activation states, which are critical for understanding disease mechanisms and its association with mLOY.
Serum Chemistry
Results of routine clinical assessment of pulmonary involvement (such as lung ultrasound, computed tomography, chest x-ray, whole-body plethysmography) will be compared to mLOY, ELISA/ Legendplex/ flow cytometry/ transcriptome analysis results.
Sarcoidosis
Patients with sarcoidosis (cross sectional, newly diagnosed with follow-up after twelve months).
Utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping mosaic loss of y (mLOY) of individual patient will be assessed.
3'mRNA sequencing analyzes gene expression profiles related to the immune response in different study cohorts, aiding in understanding the genetic underpinnings of inflammation and its association with mLOY.
Used to measure cytokine levels in the serum of investigated patients, aiding in profiling inflammatory markers that are indicative of disease activity, response to treatment and consequence of mLOY..
Employed to analyze immune cell phenotypes in investigated cohorts. This test helps identify various immune cell subsets and their activation states, which are critical for understanding disease mechanisms and its association with mLOY.
Serum Chemistry
Results of routine clinical assessment of pulmonary involvement (such as lung ultrasound, computed tomography, chest x-ray, whole-body plethysmography) will be compared to mLOY, ELISA/ Legendplex/ flow cytometry/ transcriptome analysis results.
Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD)
Patients with ILD (cross sectional, newly diagnosed with follow-up after twelve months).
Utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping mosaic loss of y (mLOY) of individual patient will be assessed.
3'mRNA sequencing analyzes gene expression profiles related to the immune response in different study cohorts, aiding in understanding the genetic underpinnings of inflammation and its association with mLOY.
Used to measure cytokine levels in the serum of investigated patients, aiding in profiling inflammatory markers that are indicative of disease activity, response to treatment and consequence of mLOY..
Employed to analyze immune cell phenotypes in investigated cohorts. This test helps identify various immune cell subsets and their activation states, which are critical for understanding disease mechanisms and its association with mLOY.
Serum Chemistry
Results of routine clinical assessment of pulmonary involvement (such as lung ultrasound, computed tomography, chest x-ray, whole-body plethysmography) will be compared to mLOY, ELISA/ Legendplex/ flow cytometry/ transcriptome analysis results.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Patients with COPD (cross sectional, newly diagnosed with follow-up after twelve months).
Utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping mosaic loss of y (mLOY) of individual patient will be assessed.
3'mRNA sequencing analyzes gene expression profiles related to the immune response in different study cohorts, aiding in understanding the genetic underpinnings of inflammation and its association with mLOY.
Used to measure cytokine levels in the serum of investigated patients, aiding in profiling inflammatory markers that are indicative of disease activity, response to treatment and consequence of mLOY..
Employed to analyze immune cell phenotypes in investigated cohorts. This test helps identify various immune cell subsets and their activation states, which are critical for understanding disease mechanisms and its association with mLOY.
Serum Chemistry
Results of routine clinical assessment of pulmonary involvement (such as lung ultrasound, computed tomography, chest x-ray, whole-body plethysmography) will be compared to mLOY, ELISA/ Legendplex/ flow cytometry/ transcriptome analysis results.
Asthma Bronchiale
Patients with asthma bronchiale (cross sectional, newly diagnosed with follow-up after twelve months).
Utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping mosaic loss of y (mLOY) of individual patient will be assessed.
3'mRNA sequencing analyzes gene expression profiles related to the immune response in different study cohorts, aiding in understanding the genetic underpinnings of inflammation and its association with mLOY.
Used to measure cytokine levels in the serum of investigated patients, aiding in profiling inflammatory markers that are indicative of disease activity, response to treatment and consequence of mLOY..
Employed to analyze immune cell phenotypes in investigated cohorts. This test helps identify various immune cell subsets and their activation states, which are critical for understanding disease mechanisms and its association with mLOY.
Serum Chemistry
Results of routine clinical assessment of pulmonary involvement (such as lung ultrasound, computed tomography, chest x-ray, whole-body plethysmography) will be compared to mLOY, ELISA/ Legendplex/ flow cytometry/ transcriptome analysis results.
Healthy Control Group
Age-/ gender matched healthy controls
Utilizing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping mosaic loss of y (mLOY) of individual patient will be assessed.
3'mRNA sequencing analyzes gene expression profiles related to the immune response in different study cohorts, aiding in understanding the genetic underpinnings of inflammation and its association with mLOY.
Used to measure cytokine levels in the serum of investigated patients, aiding in profiling inflammatory markers that are indicative of disease activity, response to treatment and consequence of mLOY..
Employed to analyze immune cell phenotypes in investigated cohorts. This test helps identify various immune cell subsets and their activation states, which are critical for understanding disease mechanisms and its association with mLOY.
Serum Chemistry
Results of routine clinical assessment of pulmonary involvement (such as lung ultrasound, computed tomography, chest x-ray, whole-body plethysmography) will be compared to mLOY, ELISA/ Legendplex/ flow cytometry/ transcriptome analysis results.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Quantification of the fraction of hematopoietic cells exhibiting mLOY.
Time Frame: Cross sectional. Newly diagnosed patients: At baseline and 12 months after diagnosis).
Detection and quantification of the fraction of hematopoietic cells exhibiting mLOY in peripheral blood using SNP. Unit of Measure: Percentage (%).
Cross sectional. Newly diagnosed patients: At baseline and 12 months after diagnosis).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in Immune Cell Phenotype
Time Frame: Cross sectional. Newly diagnosed patients: At baseline and 12 months after diagnosis

Identification and quantification of immune cell subtypes, using flow cytometry.

Unit of Measure: Changes in levels (percentages).

Cross sectional. Newly diagnosed patients: At baseline and 12 months after diagnosis
Changes in Cytokine Profiles
Time Frame: Cross sectional. Newly diagnosed patients: At baseline and 12 months after diagnosis
Identification and quantification of cytokines using 3'-mRNA transcriptome analysis and ELISA/ Legendplex. Unit of Measure: Changes in levels (pg/mL)
Cross sectional. Newly diagnosed patients: At baseline and 12 months after diagnosis
Number of Participants with Detected Pulmonary Involvement
Time Frame: Cross sectional. Newly diagnosed patients: At baseline and 12 months after diagnosis
Detection of structural anomalies in the lung in clinical routine assessment using lung ultrasound, computed tomography, chest radiography and whole-body plethysmography. Unit of Measure: Number of participants.
Cross sectional. Newly diagnosed patients: At baseline and 12 months after diagnosis

Collaborators and Investigators

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

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 (Actual)

November 15, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 15, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 15, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

November 19, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 10, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 7, 2025

Last Verified

April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Data are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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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