Immunotherapy of the Recent-onset Type 1 Diabetes in Adolescents With Repeated Courses of Rituximab

Overview

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is caused by destruction of pancreatic islet beta-cells that produce insulin - the hormone required for glucose uptake by body tissues and organs. Since loss of beta-cells leads to insulin deficiency, blood glucose increases and the symptoms of T1D (thirst, hunger, excessive urination) appear. Inability of patient's tissues and organs to utilize glucose results in rapid weight loss and life-threatening acute T1D complications - ketosis and coma. To ensure glucose consumption by tissues and organs and to prevent acute complications, all patients with T1D need lifelong therapy with insulin. Insulin therapy is also necessary to prevent long-term T1D complications (eye, renal, nerve, and heart problems). By the time T1D is diagnosed, 80-90% of beta-cells have already been destroyed. However, 10-20% viable insulin-producing beta-cells remain in the pancreas over several months and even years after T1D diagnosis. The higher the percentage of the remaining beta-cells, the smaller the risk of long-term complications. Destruction of beta-cells in T1D has an autoimmune origin. It means that the patient's immune system, which is normally targeted at microbes, viruses, and other non-self substances, mistakenly destroys the beta-cells. The key role in this autoimmune reaction is played by specific cells of the immune system: T- and B-lymphocytes. T-lymphocytes directly damage the beta-cells, while B-lymphocytes support T-lymphocytes activity via antigen presentation mechanisms. Rituximab is a drug that specifically eliminates B-lymphocytes from the blood based on the CD20 surface molecule expressed on their surface, as a target. Notably, a subset of currently active T cells, including those potentially associated with pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis, also express CD20 marker on their surface. This makes them a potentially another critically important target of rituximab. In 2009 - 2014, a multicenter study in the U. S. and Canada showed that a single three-week course of rituximab infusions slightly but significantly had improved survival of residual beta-cells and their insulin-producing capacity in patients with recent-onset T1D. However, this beneficial action of rituximab lasted for only one year. We hypothesized that the repeated courses of rituximab performed over a period of 5 months could produce more profound and durable elimination of pathogenic B- and T- cells, and as a consequence prolonged survival of residual beta-cells and insulin secretion without serious adverse events. Testing this hypothesis is the goal of our study

The study is a non-randomized, two-arm, open-label trial in which 1/2 of participants will receive repeated infusions of rituximab and their routine insulin therapy, while the remaining 1/2 will receive their routine insulin therapy only). The group the participant is assigned to is chosen by the participant himself/herself, participant's parent or another legally authorized representative, and by a doctor at the study Clinical Center. In the rituximab group, participants will receive fourteen intravenous infusions of rituximab over a period of 1 year at the study Clinical Center. Over this period, the participants will need to return to the Clinical Center for hospitalization 13 times. At each visit, detailed physical examination and laboratory evaluation will be performed. Participants of the insulin-only group will also need to visit the Clinical Center for physical examination and laboratory evaluation 5 times over a period of 1 year. In both groups, beta-cell survival and insulin-secreting capacity will be assessed by measuring blood C-peptide levels. C-peptide is a small protein secreted by beta-cells together with insulin in equal amounts, thus allowing to assess beta-cell secretory activity in individuals receiving insulin therapy. C-peptide will be measured in the fasting state and at 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes after oral liquid meal load. This test will be performed at the study start and in the 12th, 19th, 26th, and 52nd week after the start. In both groups, those participants that continue to secrete insulin will have further follow-up for an additional one year