Low-dose endotoxin inhalation in healthy volunteers–a challenge model for early clinical drug development.

First published in BMC Pulmonary Medicine on 2013 Mar.
BMC Pulm Med. 2013 Mar 28;13:19. doi: 10.1186/1471-2466-13-19

Authors: Janssen O, Schaumann F, Holz O, Lavae-Mokhtari B, Welker L, Winkler C, Biller H, Krug N, Hohlfeld JM.

Abstract

Background

Inhalation of endotoxin (LPS) induces a predominantly neutrophilic airway inflammation and has been used as model to test the anti-inflammatory activity of novel drugs. In the past, a dose exceeding 15-50 μg was generally needed to induce a sufficient inflammatory response. For human studies, regulatory authorities in some countries now request the use of GMP-grade LPS, which is of limited availability. It was therefore the aim of this study to test the effect and reproducibility of a low-dose LPS challenge (20,000 E.U.; 2 μg) using a flow- and volume-controlled inhalation technique to increase LPS deposition.
 

Methods

Two to four weeks after a baseline sputum induction, 12 non-smoking healthy volunteers inhaled LPS on three occasions, separated by at least 4 weeks. To modulate the inflammatory effect of LPS, a 5-day pharmacodynamicsE4 inhibitor (Roflumilast) treatment preceded the last challenge. Six hours after each LPS inhalation, sputum induction was performed.
 

Results

The low-dose LPS inhalation was well tolerated and increased the mean percentage of sputum neutrophils from 25% to 72%. After the second LPS challenge, 62% neutrophils and an increased percentage of monocytes were observed. The LPS induced influx of neutrophils and the cumulative inflammatory response compared with baseline were reproducible. Treatment with Roflumilast for 5 days did not have a significant effect on sputum composition.

Conclusions

The controlled inhalation of 2 μg GMP-grade LPS is sufficient to induce a significant neutrophilic airway inflammation in healthy volunteers. Repeated low-dose LPS challenges potentially result in a small shift of the neutrophil/monocyte ratio; however, the cumulative response is reproducible, enabling the use of this model for „proof-of-concept“ studies for anti-inflammatory compounds during early drug development.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01400568.

 

Read more

Download full article as Pdf file:

Pdf File 1

Pdf File 2

 

REACHING OUT IS EASY AND FAST – LET’S TALK

Prof. Dr. Thomas Forst

Chairman of the Executive Board


LET’S TALK SCIENCE