Distinct trajectories distinguish antigen-specific T cells in peanut-allergic individuals undergoing oral immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

Despite similar clinical symptoms, peanut-allergic (PA) individuals may respond quite differently to the same therapeutic interventions.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine whether inherent qualities of cell response at baseline could influence response to peanut oral immunotherapy (PnOIT).

METHODS

We first performed ex vivo T-cell profiling on peanut-reactive CD154+CD137+ T (pTeff) cells from 90 challenge-confirmed PA individuals. We developed a gating strategy for unbiased assessment of the phenotypic distribution of rare pTeff cells across different memory CD4+ T-cell subsets to define patient immunotype. In longitudinal samples of 29 PA participants enrolled onto the IMPACT trial of PnOIT, we determined whether patient immunotype at baseline could influence response to PnOIT.

RESULTS

Our data emphasize the heterogeneity of pTeff cell responses in PA participants with 2 mutually exclusive phenotypic entities (CCR6-CRTH2+ and CCR6+CRTH2-). Our findings lead us to propose that peanut allergy can be classified broadly into at least 2 discrete subtypes, termed immunotypes, with distinct immunologic and clinical characteristics that are based on the proportion of TH2A pTeff cells. PnOIT induced elimination of TH2A pTeff cells in the context of the IMPACT clinical trial. Only 1 PA patient with a low level of TH2A pTeff cells at baseline experienced long-lasting benefit of remission after PnOIT discontinuation.

CONCLUSION

Dividing PA patients according to their individual peanut-specific T-cell profile may facilitate patient stratification in clinical settings by identifying which immunotypes might respond best to different therapies.

Higher COPD Assessment Test Score Associated With Greater Exacerbations Risk: A Post Hoc Analysis of the IMPACT Trial

BACKGROUND

In the InforMing the PAthway of COPD Treatment (IMPACT) trial, single-inhaler fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol (FF/UMEC/VI) reduced moderate/severe exacerbation rates versus FF/VI and UMEC/VI in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This post hoc analysis tested the relationship between baseline health status, risk of future exacerbations, and efficacy outcomes.

METHODS

IMPACT was a Phase 3, double-blind, 52-week trial in patients with symptomatic COPD (COPD Assessment Test [CAT] score ≥10) and ≥1 moderate/severe exacerbation in the prior year randomized 2:2:1 to FF/UMEC/VI 100/62.5/25mcg, FF/VI 100/25mcg, or UMEC/VI 62.5/25mcg. Annual rate of on-treatment moderate/severe exacerbations, lung function, and safety were analyzed by continuous baseline CAT score.

RESULTS

Moderate/severe exacerbation rates increased with increasing baseline CAT scores in FF/UMEC/VI and UMEC/VI arms. There was a very small increase in on-treatment pneumonia rates at higher baseline CAT scores across all treatment arms. FF/UMEC/VI reduced moderate/severe exacerbation rates versus UMEC/VI (i.e., the inhaled corticosteroid effect) consistently across the range of CAT scores. The reduction with FF/UMEC/VI versus FF/VI (i.e., the long-acting muscarinic antagonist effect) was greatest at lower CAT scores and appeared lesser at higher CAT scores. Improvements in lung function were observed with FF/UMEC/VI versus FF/VI and UMEC/VI, regardless of baseline CAT score.

CONCLUSIONS

The CAT score was predictive of exacerbation risk. Worse baseline health status was associated with higher moderate/severe exacerbation and pneumonia rates. Irrespective of baseline CAT score, FF/UMEC/VI improved lung function, and reduced the annual moderate/severe exacerbation rates versus dual therapy. Results indicate an overall favorable benefit-risk profile of triple versus dual therapy, irrespective of CAT score. Clinical Trial Registration:GSK (CTT116855/NCT02164513).

Alterations in atrial electrogram amplitude as steady sinus rhythm transitions to paroxysmal atrial fibrillation during continuous monitoring in patients with implantable cardiac devices: Insights from the IMPACT study

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to evaluate whether device measured amplitudes of atrial electrogram (AEGM) would change when measured in sinus rhythm (SR) transitioning to paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) from previous steady SR, and significance of such change.

METHODS

From the IMPACT trial's database we selected two groups; (A) those who developed AF (n = 164), and (B) propensity-matched control (n = 459) who stayed in SR during continuous Home Monitoring (HM) to compare AEGMs amplitudes at baseline SR and transition phase.

RESULTS

During 420.0 ± 349.2 days (mean ± SD) from first postenrollment HM transmission to AF event transmission in Group A, and corresponding 515.3 ± 407.0 days in Group B, baseline and transition AEGM amplitude were 2.88 ± 1.146 and 2.74 ± 1.186 mV, respectively, for Group A (p = .1), and 2.88 ± 1.155 and 2.79 ± 1.145, respectively, for Group B (p < .005). Comparison of differences of AEGM amplitude, 0.14 ± 1.072 mV in Group A and 0.09 ± 0.893 mV in Group B were insignificant (p = .3). Age, sex, and hypertension identified as confounders had no association to AEGM changes (p = NS).

CONCLUSIONS

Independent of age, sex, and hypertension, AEGMs amplitudes decline over a long period of time in patients with defibrillators and substrate for AF. The significance of such change remains unclear as it occurs whether patients develop AF or not, but raises a possibility of progressive atrial myopathy that patients with substrate for AF may be predisposed to.

Single-Inhaler Triple Therapy and Health-Related Quality of Life in COPD: The IMPACT Study

Introduction

The phase 3 InforMing the PAthway of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Treatment (IMPACT) trial, single-inhaler therapy with fluticasone furoate (FF) 100 μg, umeclidinium (UMEC) 62.5 μg, and vilanterol (VI) 25 μg demonstrated a reduction in the rate of moderate or severe exacerbations compared with FF/VI or UMEC/VI in patients with symptomatic COPD at risk of exacerbations. This article reports additional evidence of improvements in symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with FF/UMEC/VI compared with either FF/VI or UMEC/VI from the IMPACT study.

Methods

Patient-reported HRQoL assessments and symptom measures included as pre-specified IMPACT end points were the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), COPD Assessment Test (CAT), and Baseline Dyspnea Index (BDI) as the anchor for the Transitional Dyspnea Index (TDI) focal score (BDI/TDI) in a subset of patients enrolled at study sites in North America and Europe. Change from baseline was assessed at weeks 4, 28, and 52.

Results

The intent-to-treat population included 10,355 patients (TDI population: 5058 patients). Clinically meaningful improvements in SGRQ total score between baseline and week 52 favored FF/UMEC/VI over FF/VI (− 1.8 units, p < 0.001) and UMEC/VI (− 1.8 units, p < 0.001). Similar improvements in the CAT and TDI focal score were also observed with FF/UMEC/VI versus FF/VI or UMEC/VI.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that in patients with symptomatic COPD at risk of exacerbations, once-daily FF/UMEC/VI, compared with FF/VI or UMEC/VI, improves patient-perceived HRQoL and symptoms.

Trial Registration Number

NCT02164513.