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Impact of Propionic Acid on Regulatory T Cell Function in Children With CKD

Impact of Propionic Acid on Regulatory T Cell Function in Children With Chronic Kidney Disease

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05858437
Acronym
Pro-Kids
Enrollment
16
Registered
2023-05-15
Start date
2024-01-15
Completion date
2026-04-30
Last updated
2025-02-18

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

Conditions

CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease) Stage 5D

Brief summary

Pro-Kids is a multi-center, double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled intervention study in children with chronic kidney disease. The investigators address the effect of a dietary food supplementation of propionic acid on the immune system and the function of the intestinal barrier in CKD patients treated with hemodialysis.

Detailed description

Chronic inflammation is a major risk factor of cardiovascular disease progression in CKD, irrespective of confounding comorbidities. Based on current knowledge, microbially-derived metabolites such as short chain fatty acids (SCFA) play an important role in the regulation of chronic inflammatory processes in CKD patients. Children with CKD are known to have reduced serum levels of the SCFA propionic acid (PA), as a consequence of both gut microbial dysbiosis and reduced fiber intake. In animal and human studies the impact of PA on function and abundance of regulatory T cells (Treg) has been demonstrated. Consequently, the investigators aim to normalize the PA serum levels by oral PA food supplementation in hemodialysis patients in order to mitigate chronic inflammation.

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTSodium propionate

The patients will be randomized to PA or placebo intervention (2:1 randomization). After the intervention of 28 days, we conduct an open-label study phase, where all patients are offered a dietary supplement of PA for overall 12 weeks (8 additional weeks for the intervention group and 12 weeks for the placebo group). By doing so we are giving every patient the opportunity to take PA and benefit from the possible positive impact on immunsystem and intestinal barrier function.

OTHERPlacebo

The patients will be randomized to PA or placebo intervention (2:1 randomization). After the intervention of 28 days, we conduct an open-label study phase, where all patients are offered a dietary supplement of PA for overall 12 weeks (8 additional weeks for the intervention group and 12 weeks for the placebo group). By doing so we are giving every patient the opportunity to take PA and benefit from the possible positive impact on immunsystem and intestinal barrier function.

Sponsors

University Hospital Heidelberg
CollaboratorOTHER
University Hospital, Essen
CollaboratorOTHER
University Hospital of Cologne
CollaboratorOTHER
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
CollaboratorOTHER
Charite University, Berlin, Germany
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
12 Years to 20 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Body weight: \> 30kg * CKD G5 treated with hemodialysis * Continuous hemodialysis treatment for \> 3 months * Clinical stable condition * Manifestation of CKD within childhood (\<18 years)

Exclusion criteria

* Disease or dysfunctions, which disqualifies the patient * Incapacity of contract or any other circumstances, which prohibit the patient or his legal guardians from understanding setup, meaning and entity of the study * Acute infections * Immunosuppressive therapy within the last 12 weeks before the start of the study * Pre-/pro- or postbiotic or antibiotic therapy within the last 4 weeks before the start of the study * Planned or unplanned hospitalization within in last 4 weeks before the start of the study or during study * Malignant diseases * Pregnancy * chronic gastrointestinal or hepatic diseases (for example chronic inflammatory bowel disease * alcohol- or drug abuse * parallel participation on other interventional trials

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in count of regulatory T-cells from baseline to week 4Baseline visit (week 0) in comparison to week 4Analysis of Treg counts in whole blood (absolute quantification) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC; relative quantification) by flow cytometry.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Immune cell phenotyping of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)Baseline visit (week 0); Week 2; Week 4; Week 12Patients PBMC will be thawed and immune cells we be analyzed using multicolor flow cytometry and mass cytometry. By using a broad range of different antibodies combined in several panels the investigators will analyse distinct T cell subtypes including markers of activation, but also other immune cells (including B cells, dendritic cells, monocytes, natural killer cells). Data will reported in relation to parent populations (e.g. T heller cells in % of T cells).
T regulatory cell (Treg) suppression assayBaseline visit (week 0); Week 4The suppressive capacity of patients Treg will be analyzed by co-cultivation with conventional, stimulated T cells (Tconv) in different proportions (Treg:Tconv). The proliferation of Tconv will be reported.
Single cell RNA sequencing of immune cellsBaseline visit (week 0); Week 4Analysis of the transcriptome of immune cells using cellular indexing of transcriptomes and epitopes (CITEseq)
Propionic acid serum levels and targeted metabolomicsBaseline visit (week 0); Week 2; Week 4; Week 12Analysis of PA serum levels and other microbially-derived metabolites by GC-MS and LC-MS
Taxonomy of the fecal microbiomeBaseline visit (week 0); Week 4The taxonomy of the fecal microbiome will be anayzed using 16S RNA amplicon sequencing.
Cardiovascular PhenotypingBaseline visit (week 0); Week 2; Week 4; Week 12Analysis of heart rate over time.
Cholesterol levelsBaseline visit (week 0); Week 2; Week 4; Week 12Cholesterol levels will be assessed using standard clinical lab values.
Intestinal barrier functionBaseline visit (week 0); Week 2; Week 4; Week 12Analysis of biomarkers for intestinal barrier function, such as sCD14, zonulin-1 and LPS

Countries

Germany

Contacts

Primary ContactJohannes Holle, Dr. med.
johannes-benjamin.holle@charite.de004930450516012
Backup ContactNicola Wilck, Dr. med.
nicola.wilck@charite.de004930450516012

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026