GSNOR Phenotyping/GSNO Challenge in Severe Asthma
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03926741 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : April 24, 2019
Last Update Posted : March 1, 2023
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Asthma is caused by or worsened by different things in different people. It is because of these differences that not all people with asthma respond the same to all treatments and medicines. If the investigators can better identify the changes in the airways or breathing pipes in patients with asthma, the investigators may be able to help patients make better choices about the medicines or treatments that are most likely to work best for each patient.
This research study is about one specific factor that is known to affect asthma in some patients. It involves an increase in the activity of an enzyme that is in people's airways. An enzyme is something that helps a chemical reaction to occur. The enzyme the investigators are studying in this research study is called GSNOR (S-nitrosoglutathione reductase) , and when the activity of this enzyme is increased, the result is that there is less GSNO (S-nitrosoglutathione) . GSNO is a chemical that protects people's airways. The initials stand for S-nitrosoglutathione, (pronounced s-nahy-troh-soh-gloo-tuh-thahy-ohn), and it is naturally produced by the body. It has an important role in regulating respiratory function (breathing) and preventing inflammation (swelling) in the respiratory tract (throat, airways, and lungs).
The amount of GSNO found in the body is controlled by the enzyme GSNOR (S-nitrosoglutathione reductase). GSNOR breaks down GSNO. Too much GSNOR leads to low levels of GSNO, and that can cause inflammation (swelling) and loss of airway function in some asthma patients.
The only way to measure GSNOR levels currently is with a bronchoscopy procedure where a scope is inserted into the patient's airways, often under sedation. This research study is being done to test the accuracy of another type of test that can be done in the doctor's office, rather than in a procedure area. This non-invasive diagnostic test, called a GSNO Challenge test, may be able to identify which asthma patients have increased activity of the airway enzyme GSNOR. The investigators are also studying the phenotypes (observable traits) in asthma patients with increased levels of GSNOR. If this research study is successful, in the future (after this research study is done). The investigators may be able to offer a cost-effective and non-invasive way to identify patients who have higher GSNOR activity levels and offer personalized treatments.
The GSNO Challenge test includes giving an investigational drug to breathe in (inhale). The investigational drug is GSNO. "Investigational" means the drug is not approved by any regulatory agencies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and is still being tested for safety and effectiveness. The research is registered with the FDA, but again the GSNO treatment in this study (administered during the GSNO challenge testing) is not an approved treatment or diagnostic test for asthma.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Asthma Healthy Volunteers | Drug: GSNO | Early Phase 1 |

Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 60 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Diagnostic |
Official Title: | Methods to Identify and Treat Severe Asthma Patients Project 1: GSNOR Phenotyping and GSNO Challenge |
Actual Study Start Date : | April 30, 2019 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | June 30, 2026 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | June 30, 2026 |
Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: GSNOR Challenge testing
patient will use a nebulizer to inhale (breathe in) a solution of GSNO followed by repeated measurements of airway function (breathing tests)
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Drug: GSNO
patient will use a nebulizer to inhale (breathe in) a solution of GSNO followed by repeated measurements of airway function (breathing tests) |
- Airway GSNOR comparison [ Time Frame: Baseline ]Airway GSNOR will be compared among the two different groups (Asthma and Healthy Volunteers).
- Airway GSNOR comparison [ Time Frame: 3 months ]Airway GSNOR will be compared among the two different groups (Asthma and Healthy Volunteers).
- Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) levels changes [ Time Frame: Baseline ]FeNO measurements will be compared among the two different groups (Asthma and Healthy Volunteers).
- Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) levels changes [ Time Frame: 3 months ]FeNO measurements will be compared among the two different groups (Asthma and Healthy Volunteers).

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 50 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
For subjects with Asthma
- Adult males or females age ≥ 18 and ≤ 50 years at the time of enrollment
- Non-smoker
- Physician diagnosis of asthma for at least one year
- FEV1 bronchodilator reversibility > 12% or methacholine PC20 < 16 mg/ml (historical methacholine data from previous NIH trials including SARP and AsthmaNet will be allowed)
- Baseline post maximal bronchodilator FEV1 >55% predicted
Healthy Volunteers
- Adult males or females age ≥ 18 and ≤ 50 years at time of enrollment
- Non-smoker
- No history of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other chronic lung disease
- No history of severe allergic/atopic disease requiring immunotherapy or immunomodulators
Exclusion Criteria
-> 5 pack year smoking history
- Body mass index (BMI) > 45
- Unable to perform repeatable consistent efforts in pulmonary function testing
- Individuals with prior diagnosis of vocal cord dysfunction or an anatomic anomaly that would increase the risks associated with the bronchoscopy procedure
- Prior diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, COPD, or other additional lung disease that in the investigator's opinion would make participant unsuitable for study participation
- History of premature birth before 35 weeks gestation
- Planning to relocate away from the clinical center (Cleveland, Ohio or central Indiana) area before study completion
- Lack of reliable communications channel (hard-wire phone, cell phone, email for follow-up contacts after bronchoscopy)
- Allergic to anesthetic medication(s) that would prevent participation in the study's bronchoscopy
- Blood pressure parameters outside the normal range of 90-180 mm Hg systolic and 50-100 mm Hg diastolic at time of screening
- Individuals with diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2)
- Individuals with renal failure or creatinine > 1.8 mg/dl at time of screening
- Individuals who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or are unwilling to use a medically acceptable method of birth control (as indicated on the Birth Control Methods Reference Card) from the time of consent until the end of the study to avoid pregnancy
- Individuals who report additional chronic diseases requiring medication of the heart, lungs, kidney, liver, brain, etc., or afflicted with any acute or chronic pathology that in the opinion of the screening physician makes them unsuitable for study such as coronary artery disease
- Asthma exacerbation requiring oral corticosteroids within the previous 30 days (can be rescreened)
- More than 3 exacerbations within the past 6 months
- Intubated for asthma within the past 12 months
- Respiratory or other infection requiring systemic antibiotics within the previous 14 days (can be rescreened)
- Current use of a vitamin K antagonist (warfarin) or other anticoagulant (e.g., heparin, clopidogrel, enoxaparin or dalteparin)
- Current use of beta-adrenergic blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, meperidine (or related central nervous system (CNS) agents), or nitrates
- Unable or unwilling to withhold medications prior to certain study procedures (skin test, spirometry, methacholine challenge)
- Inherited or acquired blood coagulation disorder, congenital methemoglobinemia, or a familial hemoglobinopathy that impacts oxygen delivery (e.g., sickle cell)
- Any illness, condition or recent surgeries that may increase the risks associated with the study
- Participation in any investigational drug study other than the Airway pH Study within the 4 week period prior to screening.
- Any acute viral illness, including active COVID-19 infection or acute viral respiratory symptoms; can rescreen 4 weeks after positive test result.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03926741
Contact: Rebecca Gammell | 216-844-6133 | PACTStudy@UHhospitals.org |
United States, Indiana | |
Indiana University School of Medicine | Recruiting |
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46202 | |
Contact: Rachel Owensby, BS 317-274-8895 rowensby@iu.edu | |
Principal Investigator: James F Chmiel, MD, MPH | |
United States, Ohio | |
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center | Recruiting |
Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44106 | |
Contact: Rebecca Gammell 216-844-6133 PACTStudy@UHhospitals.org | |
Principal Investigator: Kristie Ross, MD |
Principal Investigator: | Kristie Ross, MD | University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center |
Responsible Party: | James Reynolds, Professor of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT03926741 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
12-17-11 5P01HL128192 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) |
First Posted: | April 24, 2019 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | March 1, 2023 |
Last Verified: | February 2023 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Yes |
Plan Description: | All of the individual participant data collected during the trial, after deidentification and analysis will be shared. |
Supporting Materials: |
Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP) Clinical Study Report (CSR) |
Time Frame: | Available Immediately following publication. No end date |
Access Criteria: | Investigators whose proposed use of the data has been approved by an independent review committee ("learned intermediary") identified for this purpose. |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: | No |
Asthma Bronchial Diseases Respiratory Tract Diseases Lung Diseases, Obstructive Lung Diseases |
Respiratory Hypersensitivity Hypersensitivity, Immediate Hypersensitivity Immune System Diseases |