Comparison of Airway Remodeling Mediators Following Experimental Human Rhinovirus Infection in Subjects with Mild to Moderate Asthma and Healthy, Non-asthmatic Control Subjects

Summary

Human rhinovirus is also called the “common cold virus” because it causes at least half of all of the common colds experienced each year. In patients with asthma, getting a rhinovirus infection can cause worsening of asthma symptoms. Although these symptoms are well known, we do not fully understand how the virus worsens these asthma symptoms, nor do we really know whether virus infection causes longer term structural changes (often referred to as airway remodeling) in the airways. This study plans to address and answer these questions. Doing so will provide us with a better understanding of how to treat asthma worsenings that are caused by human rhinovirus infections.

The epithelial cell is the cell that lines the surface of your airways from your nose down to your lungs, and is also the cell type that gets infected by rhinovirus. At present, it is thought that the virus causes symptoms by changing epithelial cell biology in a way that causes airway inflammation. Some of these inflammatory molecules are also thought to cause scarring (remodeling) of the airways, which over time, may lead to a loss of lung function. In order to examine how the virus causes inflammation, many earlier studies have used experimental infection with the virus and have measured various markers of inflammation.

The purpose of this study is to compare the levels of inflammatory and remodeling products in the airways of study participants with mild to moderate asthma and healthy, non-asthmatic subjects after infection with rhinovirus (the common cold virus).

Eligibility

Currently recruiting participants: Yes

Eligible ages: 18 to 65

Accepts healthy participants: Yes

Inclusion criteria:

You may be eligible to participate in this study if:

- you are between 18 and 65 years of age.
- you are willing and able to sign an informed consent form.
- you have mild to moderate asthma, or, if you do not have a history of asthma.
- you are a non-smoker.

Exclusion criteria:

You may not be eligible to participate in this trial if:

- you have antibodies to the particular rhinovirus used in the trial (HRV-039).
- you are currently pregnant or receive a positive pregnancy result at the time of study-screening.
- you have an acute or chronic illness or have recently recovered from an acute illness.
- you have an autoimmune disease or immunodeficiency.
- you are unable or unwilling to sign an informed consent form.

Participate

This study is not currently accepting expressions of interest via the website. Please see contact information below.

Additional information

Contact information

Please contact our study coordinator, Curtis, at 403-220-2123.

Principal investigator:

Richard Leigh

Clinical trial:

Yes

REB-ID:

REB15-1007