Clinical Research Directory

An Exploratory Clinical Study of YTS109 Cell for R/R Autoimmune Diseases

This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of YTS109 cells in adults with relapsed/refractory autoimmune diseases, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), including LN and SLE-ITP, Sjogren's Syndrome, etc. Aproximately 18 patients aged 18-65 will receive a single infusion of YTS109 cells. The dose groups are set to commence at 3×10⁶ STAR -T cells/kg, employing a 3+3 escalation principle for dose titration. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the safety of YTS109 cells therapy in treating recurrent/refractory autoimmune diseases, while the secondary objectives are to assess the efficacy of YTS109 cells as well as their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics. The primary endpoint is observations of types, severity, and frequency of adverse events (AEs) and efficacy assessment. This single-arm, open-label trial will enroll patients across Bengbu Third People's Hospital.

Safety and Immunogenicity of the Live Attenuated Tetravalent Butantan-Dengue Vaccine in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether the live attenuated tetravalent Butantan-Dengue vaccine (Butantan-DV) is safe and capable of inducing an immune response in patients aged 12 to 59 years with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) who are clinically stable and under low-grade or no immunosuppression, as well as in healthy volunteers matched by sex and age. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the vaccine induce adequate seroconversion in patients with ARDs compared to healthy controls? What is the frequency and intensity of common adverse events after vaccination in ARDs patients? Does physical activity levels and nutritional status influence vaccine-induced immune response in patients with ARDs? Researchers will compare patients with ARDs to healthy controls to evaluate if the vaccine elicits similar immune responses and safety profiles. All participants will: * receive a single 0.5 mL dose of the Butantan-DV vaccine via subcutaneous injection; * undergo blood sample collection before and after vaccination (baseline, Day 42, and Day 400) to assess antibody and cellular responses; * attend follow-up visits on Days 7, 14, and 42 for safety monitoring and laboratory tests; * report any symptoms or adverse events using a standardized diary for 42 days; * be followed for up to one year for long-term safety and immunogenicity assessments. * wear a device for 14 consecutive days to assess current and habitual physical activity levels. * answer three non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls, including at least one weekend day to assess nutritional status. * collect blood samples one-year after vaccination to access immunogenicity and cellular response. Researcher will also perform subgroups analysis in: A viremia subgroup (50 patients and 50 healthy controls) will provide additional samples on Days 1, 7, 14, 28, 42, and-if viremia is detected-Day 68, to evaluate post-vaccination viremia and its duration. An immunogenicity subgroup (\~20% of participants, n=96) will undergo cellular immune response testing via flow cytometry to evaluate T-cell responses.

Exploratory Clinical Study on YTS109 Cell Therapy for Autoimmune Diseases

This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of YTS109 cells in adults with relapsed/refractory autoimmune diseases, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), including LN and SLE-ITP, Sjogren's Syndrome, etc. Aproximately 18 patients aged 18-65 will receive a single infusion of YTS109 cells. The dose groups are set to commence at 3×10⁶ STAR -T cells/kg, employing a 3+3 escalation principle for dose titration. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the safety of YTS109 cells therapy in treating recurrent/refractory autoimmune diseases, while the secondary objectives are to assess the efficacy of YTS109 cells as well as their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics. The primary endpoint is observations of types, severity, and frequency of adverse events (AEs) and efficacy assessment. This single-arm, open-label trial will enroll patients across The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University.

Rheumatology Patient Registry and Biorepository

To facilitate clinical, basic science, and translational research projects involving the study of rheumatic diseases.

Anti-CD19 IL-10/IL15 CAR-NK Cells in Refractory/Relapsed Autoimmune Diseases

This study is a single-center, open-label, single-arm, dose-escalation trial. The aim of this study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of Anti-CD19 IL-10/IL15 CAR-NK cells in patients with refractory/relapsed autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, idiopathic inflammatory myositis, ANCA associated vasculitis, sjogren syndrome, and antiphospholipid syndrome.

Clinical Study of BCT301 Cell Injection Therapy for Refractory Autoimmune Diseases

This study primarily involves the use of BCT301, an anti-CD19 Chemically induced pluripotent stem cell (CiPSC)-derived CAR-iT cells, for the treatment of patients with refractory autoimmune diseases, aiming to evaluate its safety, tolerability, and dose-limiting toxicities(DLT), and to determine the recommended therapeutic dose for further investigation. Additionally, the study assesses the efficacy of BCT301 cell injection in refractory autoimmune diseases, as well as the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) characteristics in study participants.

A Study of CD19 UCAR-T Cells in Subjects With Autoimmune Diseases

The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of CD19 UCAR-T cell therapy in Subjects with autoimmune diseases.

Registry on Augmented Antithrombotic Treatment Regimens for Patients With Arterial Thrombotic APS

The goal of this registry is to gather more information on the efficacy and safety of various antithrombotic regimens. The registry collects data on patients with antiphospholipid syndrome and an arterial event within the past 12 months, on treatment with either A) a VKA with therapeutic range, INR 2.0-3.0 plus low-dose aspirin (75-100 mg daily), B) a VKA alone with therapeutic range, INR 2.0-3.0, C) a VKA with therapeutic range, INR 3.0-4.0, or D) with a dual antiplatelet regimen. The follow-up is 2 years.

Register for Pediatric Patients With Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS): European Project Extended Internationally Study

The purpose of this study is to gather information about causes and treatment of Antiphospholipid Syndrome.

Characterization of Autoreactive b Lymphocytes in Autoimmune Diseases and Immune Deficiencies

Autoimmune diseases (AID), whether systemic or organ-specific, affect approximately one in ten people, and their prevalence continues to increase. Many AIDs are linked to the emergence of autoreactive B cells (BCs) directed against components of the self. In healthy individuals, these autoreactive B cells are counter-selected or regulated before reaching the antibody-secreting cell compartment. However, in predisposed individuals, a breakdown in B cell tolerance can occur, leading to the formation of autoantibodies with devastating consequences, such as the emergence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, and vasculitis. B-cell depletion is often beneficial in these patients, but paradoxically, therapies targeting B cells are not always effective. Furthermore, B cell depletion via LB-specific antibodies (anti-CD20) or treatment with CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR T) leads to complete and prolonged depression of the entire B compartment without targeting the LB population responsible for the onset of the disease. To date, two pitfalls in studies of human autoreactive LBs often complicate the interpretation of results: i) the difficulty of identifying autoreactive LBs among all LBs, ii) demonstrating the pathogenicity of autoreactive B lymphocytes when they can be identified individually. We propose to quantify and phenotype these autoreactive/pathogenic B cells using high-throughput flow cytometry in several clinical situations.

Prevalence and Consequences of Antiphospholipid Syndrome in Patients Aged 65 and Over With Ischemic Strokes (IS)

Stroke represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality despite significant progress in recent decades. In individuals under the age of 65, the etiologies of ischemic stroke (IS) are diverse, and management is well-established. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) accounts for 10 to 20% of the causes of stroke in this population. In elderly individuals, APS is not systematically investigated due to the predominance of embolic, atherosclerotic, and small vessel disease causes. However, delayed discovery of APS is not uncommon and is more frequently associated with the occurrence of arterial thrombosis. Moreover, the management of APS involves several challenges given the risk of recurrence of thrombosis and the potential association with conventional cardiovascular risk factors. The antithrombotic treatment consists of lifelong anticoagulation, excluding direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) due to the risk of thrombotic recurrence. The main objective of the study will be to assess the prevalence of antibodies useful for the diagnosis of APS (Sapporo criteria) in individuals aged 65 or older hospitalized for an ischemic stroke (IS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Furthermore, the classification of APS is likely to evolve in the coming years with the inclusion of new clinically relevant antibodies (anti-phosphatidylserine and anti-phosphatidylethanolamine) because of their strong association with the occurrence of thrombosis. Even though they are often associated with circulating anticoagulants, they are also found in 10% of APS cases negative for other antibodies. Patient inclusion in the study should occur during the acute phase of the stroke, before the initiation of anticoagulant treatment. Thus, after verifying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, patients will be informed and must sign the informed consent form if they agree to participate. After inclusion, the research procedure will be as follows: * Conduct a unique immunological biological assessment with: * Part performed as part of standard care: circulating anticoagulants, anti-cardiolipin antibodies, and anti-β2-glycoprotein type 1. * Part performed specifically for the study (3.5 mL of additional blood): anti-phosphatidylserine and anti-phosphatidylethanolamine antibodies. The search for these antibodies will be performed using the 7mL dry tube collected for anti-cardiolipin and anti-β2-glycoprotein type 1 antibody testing. * If the diagnostic sample is positive for any of these antibodies, a follow-up at 3 months is recommended and will be performed as part of standard care to confirm the APS diagnosis. * Data collection will include patient details, stroke/TIA details, biological data, and follow-up. As part of routine follow-up, patients will be seen in a neurological consultation at 6 months. Clinical and biological data will be reviewed at the end of the study by two doctors (a neurologist and an internist) to confirm or exclude the APS diagnosis and its contribution to the neurological condition. An internal medicine follow-up will be initiated for patients with confirmed APS, and an appropriate treatment will be proposed.

Evaluation of Cell Membrane Expression of Annexin A2 on Monocytes by Flow Cytometry in Primary Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Annexin A2 (ANXA2), an endothelial cell receptor for plasminogen and tissue plasminogen activator, plays a pivotal role in regulation of fibrinolysis in vitro and in vivo and has been identified as a new autoantigen in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). ANXA2 can exist as a monomer or a heterotetrameric complex with S100A10 protein. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cell membrane expression of ANXA2 on circulating monocytes in APS by flow cytometry. Several pathogenic mechanisms are involved in APS such as activation of endothelial cells, platelets and monocytes, inhibition of the natural anticoagulant protein C/protein S pathway, activation of the complement system and also impairment of fibrinolysis. Annexin A2 which hits binding partner S100A10, ANXA2 forms a cell surface complex that regulates generation of plasmin. ANXA2 is involved in the pathogenesis of APS-associated through several possible mechanisms. Human peripheral blood monocytes represent the major circulating ANXA2-expressing cell and ANXA2-mediated assembly of plasminogen and tissue activator of plasminogen (tPA) on monocyte/macrophages contributes to plasmin generation. Thus the investigators could suppose that decrease of cell membrane expression of ANXA2 on circulating monocytes represent a new pathogenic mechanism in APS.

Hematological Markers MPV, PLR, and NLR in Primary Versus Secondary Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome is a thrombo-inflammatory autoimmune disorder with a complex antiphospholipid antibody-mediated pathogenesis, and high heterogeneity in clinical presentation and disease course. Clinical presentation in antiphospholipid syndrome includes venous and arterial thrombosis, pregnancy complications, and a broad range of microvascular and non-thrombotic manifestations

Safety and Efficacy of Universal CD19-targeting CAR-γδT Cells in Refractory Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases refer to a common category of diseases caused by the immune system reacting to self-antigens, leading to tissue damage. Autoimmune diseases encompass a wide variety of conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus（SLE）, Sjögren's syndrome (SS), systemic sclerosis (SSc), inflammatory myopathies (IM), ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). They affect the quality of life, while in severe cases, they can be life-threatening. Additionally, they impose a heavy economic burden on society. Current treatments for autoimmune diseases include glucocorticoid, immunosuppressants, and biologics. B cell-driven humoral immune abnormalities are a central pathogenic mechanism in many autoimmune diseases. When autoreactive B cells are excessively activated, they produce large amounts of autoantibodies and immune complexes. These antibodies and immune complexes can cause damage to various tissues and organs, leading to the development of multiple autoimmune diseases. Therefore, targeting B cells to treat autoimmune diseases is an attractive therapeutic strategy. Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cells targeting the B cell surface molecule CD19 have achieved significant clinical progress in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, with several CD19 CAR-T therapies approved for marketing worldwide. Increasingly, clinical studies are exploring the use of CD19 CAR-T cells for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and their therapeutic efficacy has been demonstrated. In this study, the investigators used γδ T cells as carrier cells to investigate the safety and efficacy of universal CAR-γδ T cells in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Anti-CD38 Antibody Treating APS With Thrombocytopenia

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of anti-CD38 antibody in the treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome with secondary thrombocytopenia in patients who have not responded adequately or relapsed after first-line treatment and at least one second-line therapy including rituximab and/or TPO-RA.

Prevalence and Etiologies of Intracranial Stenosis in Patients With Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an important cause of young stroke which could result in major disability. Cohort studies suggested that 17% of young ischemic stroke were accountable by APS (1). Although warfarin has been the mainstay of treatment in APS for the past decades, recurrent thromboembolism occurred up to 10% of warfarinized patients with APS (2, 3). These observations call for an in-depth understanding of disease mechanisms secondary to antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Contrary to traditional understanding, recent evidence suggested mechanisms of cerebrovascular ischemia in APS are far more complex than hypercoagulability alone. In the proposed cross-sectional study, we aim to determine the prevalence of intracranial stenosis, and to explore the correlations between the neuroimaging findings and the immunological as well as clinical features in patients with APS. In the proposed cross-sectional study, we aim to determine the prevalence of intracranial stenosis, and to explore the correlations between the neuroimaging findings and the immunological as well as clinical features in patients with APS.

Negative Antiphospholipid Syndrome: a Multicentric Study

Multicentre no-profit, national, (cross-sectional diagnostic) retrospective study, promoted by the Italian Society for Rheumatology. The main objective of the study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of non-criteria aPL (anti-vimentin/cardiolipin and anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin) in identifying APS in patients with thrombosis/recurrent adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Predictors of Pregnancy Outcome in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS)

The PROMISSE Study is an observational study of 700 pregnant patients, enrolled at nine major clinical centers. The purpose of the study is 1) to determine whether certain proteins (called complement split products) that can injure healthy organs can be used to predict poor pregnancy outcome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS), and/or 2) to determine whether elevated levels of circulating antiangiogenic factors predict pregnancy complications in patients with aPL antibodies and/or SLE.

BCMA-CD19 CAR-T Therapy for Refractory Autoimmune Diseases

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BCMA/CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.

Genetic Risk Factors Associated With Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome

Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS) is characterized by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies, which are proteins in the blood that interfere with the body's ability to perform normal blood clotting. Clinical problems associated with antiphospholipid antibodies include an increased risk for the formation of blood clots in the lungs or deep veins of the legs, stroke, heart attack, and recurrent miscarriages. It is possible that some people with APS have a genetic predisposition for developing the syndrome. This study will use a genetic strategy to identify potential inherited risk factors for the development of APS by recruiting people with APS who have family members also affected by the syndrome or by another autoimmune disorder, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

Safety and Efficacy of Zanubrutinib in the Treatment of Antiphospholipid Syndrome With Secondary Thrombocytopenia

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of zanubrutinib in the treatment of antiphospholipid syndrome with secondary thrombocytopenia in 10 patients.

Clinical Outcomes of Primary Versus Secondary Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Observational retrospective cohort study to assess clinical outcomes in patients with primary versus secondary antiphospholipid syndrome

Universal CAR-T Cells (BRL-301) in Relapse or Refractory Autoimmune Diseases

This is an investigator initiated trial to assess the efficacy and safety of BRL-301 in the relapse or refractory autoimmune diseases of China.

Comparison of Clopidogrel-based Antiplatelet Therapy Versus Warfarin As Secondary Prevention Strategy for AntiPhospholipid Syndrome-related STROKE

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) has a close association with ischemic stroke; however, the optimal treatment strategy for APS-related stroke has yet to be established. The clinical guidelines suggest using warfarin for APS-related stroke, but these suggestions are largely based on retrospective studies from the 1990s and expert opinion, rather than high-quality clinical trials. Moreover, the evidence on the role of antiplatelet drugs other than aspirin (e.g., clopidogrel) in APS-related stroke is particularly limited. Considering the relatively young age of patients with APS and the high clinical burden of using warfarin, it is necessary to verify whether warfarin is essential. Thus, the investigators aim to compare clopidogrel-based antiplatelet therapy and warfarin as a secondary preventive medication for patients with APS-related stroke. APS-STROKE is an exploratory, multicenter, prospective, randomized, open, blinded-endpoint clinical trial. Adult patients with definite APS who have a history of ischemic stroke will be included. Patients with high-risk APS (triple positivity or persistently high titers of anti-cardiolipin or anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies), systemic lupus erythematous, or indications for continued antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy will be excluded. Eligible patients will be 1:1 randomized to receive clopidogrel-based antiplatelet therapy or warfarin. Patients assigned to the clopidogrel-based antiplatelet therapy group will be permitted to use additional antiplatelet drugs other than clopidogrel at the investigator's discretion. The primary outcome is a composite of any death, major adverse cardiovascular events, systemic thromboembolic events, and major bleeding during a follow-up period of at least 4 years. This study would provide valuable information for determining the optimal secondary prevention strategy for APS-related stroke.