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Mechanisms of Ozone-Induced Alterations in Efferocytosis and Phagocytosis

Mechanisms of Ozone-Induced Alterations in Efferocytosis and Phagocytosis

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03646877
Acronym
MOZEPH
Enrollment
35
Registered
2018-08-24
Start date
2019-03-19
Completion date
2023-07-27
Last updated
2026-06-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Healthy

Brief summary

The purpose of this research study to understand how environmental and genetic factors may be involved in lung function. Healthy Study participants will undergo a 1-day screening that includes a blood draw and breathing testing, return for a two-day series of testing to include blood draw, and brief breathing test before and after an inhaled challenge with either filtered air (FA) or ozone (O3). Participants return the next day for a brief breathing test, a blood draw and a procedure called bronchoscopy performed under conscious sedation to evaluate the lung after the challenge. Participants then return 18 - 20 days later to repeat the two-day series of testing to be challenged with the exposure not received on the first series, (FA or O3). Each visit will take about 3 - 3.5 hours. Follow-up phone calls from the study team will occur at 24 hours after each 2-day test series. Total study duration is about one to one-and a half months.

Detailed description

In brief, at V1 subjects will be assessed for baseline spirometry and venous blood analysis prior to exposure. The venous blood will be used to obtain PMNs for apoptosis assays, and serum for CFH and sCD163 levels. Additionally, this will be used to measure cytokines and growth factors. At each visit, if the subject is female, there will be a urine pregnancy test performed. Following this initial assessment, subjects will be challenged with FA or O3 and then spirometry will be performed, and venous blood will be obtained immediately following the exposure (V2). The subjects will then return 20 hours ±4h later for follow up studies (V3). There will be spirometry, a venous blood draw and urine pregnancy testing (if female) followed by bronchoscopy. At bronchoscopy, vital signs will be determined, including O2 sat. Patient then undergo an 18-20 day washout period before they are brought back in for V4 for the alternate challenge. This will follow the same protocol as outline above in the initial exposure and use the same series of analysis as the first set of visits. Therefore, we will fully characterize the biological response to ozone and filtered air in these same subjects.

Interventions

DRUGOzone

Subjects will perform alternating 15 minutes rest with 15 minutes treadmill walk exercise periods for 135 minutes in while breathing Ozone (O3).

Subjects will perform alternating 15 minutes rest with 15 minutes treadmill walk exercise periods for 135 minutes in while breathing filtered air.

Sponsors

Robert Tighe, MD
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
CollaboratorNIH
Ohio State University
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

• Individuals between 18-35 yrs. of age (No subject will be excluded from the study on the basis of gender or ethnicity)

Exclusion criteria

* Current smokers of tobacco products including e-cigarettes or those with previous smoking history within the prior 5 years * Pregnant women and women who are presently lactating. * Subjects that have received antibiotic administration or an upper respiratory infection within the previous 4 weeks * College and graduate students or employees who are under direct supervision by any of the investigators in this protocol * Alcohol or illicit substance abuse * Chronic cardio/pulmonary respiratory disorders or other medical conditions as determined by the investigator * Increased airway hyperresponsiveness at baseline as measured by a positive methacholine challenge response (methacholine PC20 FEV1 \< 8 mg/ml) * Subjects will be requested to refrain from antihistamines, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, antioxidants (e.g. beta-carotene, selenium, and lutein) and supplemental vitamins (e.g. C and E), for 1 week prior to, and during testing.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Ozone Induced Efferocytosis of Lung Macrophages (Ability to Clear Dead or Dying Cells)Baseline, 21 daysEfferocytosis is defined by determining the number of apoptotic PMNs phagocytized by alveolar macrophages (BAL cytospins) versus the total number of macrophages ('efferocytic index'). The efferocytic index is a measure of how efficiently macrophages engulf and clear apoptotic (dying) cells. It can be determined by counting the number of macrophages that have a phagocytosed apoptotic body and dividing it by the total number of macrophages counted. A higher value is considered better.
Change in Ozone Induced Phagocytosis of Lung Macrophages (Ability to Clear Debris or Bacteria)Baseline, 21 daysBronchoalveolar macrophages are incubated with pHrodo™ dye-labeled particles. Macrophage phagocytosis will be defined by determining the number of macrophages that contain fluorescent particles versus the total macrophages. Cell free hemoglobin and soluble CD163 - both are measured by commercial ELISA kit.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Ozone Induced Increase in Cell Free Hemoglobin in Bronchoalveolar Lavage FluidBaseline, 21 daysMeasured by spectroscopy.
Change in Ozone Induced Increase in Soluble CD163 in Bronchoalveolar Lavage FluidBaseline, 21 daysMeasured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORRobert Tighe, MD

Duke University

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Subjects were recruited from Duke University campus and surrounding Durham, NC, community using advertisement in newspapers, mailings, and the campus student newspaper. Subjects were screened to determine eligibility per protocol inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Baseline characteristics

Characteristic
Age, Continuous23.75 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.31
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
14 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
3 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
11 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
19 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
7 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
12 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 350 / 35
other
Total, other adverse events
1 / 350 / 35
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 350 / 35

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jun 16, 2026