1. Ustekinumab for type 1 diabetes in adolescents: a multicenter, double-blind, randomized phase 2 trial.
- Author
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Tatovic D, Marwaha A, Taylor P, Hanna SJ, Carter K, Cheung WY, Luzio S, Dunseath G, Hutchings HA, Holland G, Hiles S, Fegan G, Williams E, Yang JHM, Domingo-Vila C, Pollock E, Wadud M, Ward-Hartstonge K, Marques-Jones S, Bowen-Morris J, Stenson R, Levings MK, Gregory JW, Tree TIM, and Dayan C
- Abstract
Immunotherapy targeting the autoimmune process in type 1 diabetes (T1D) can delay the loss of β-cells but needs to have minimal adverse effects to be an adjunct to insulin in the management of T1D. Ustekinumab binds to the shared p40 subunit of interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, targeting development of T helper 1 cells and T helper 17 cells (T
H 1 and TH 17 cells) implicated in the pathogenesis of T1D. We conducted a double-blind, randomized controlled trial of ustekinumab in 72 adolescents aged 12-18 years with recent-onset T1D. Treatment was well tolerated with no increase in adverse events. At 12 months, β-cell function, measured by stimulated C-peptide, was 49% higher in the intervention group (P = 0.02), meeting the prespecified primary outcome. Preservation of C-peptide correlated with the reduction of T helper cells co-secreting IL-17A and interferon-γ (TH 17.1 cells, P = 0.04) and, in particular, with the reduction in a subset of TH 17.1 cells co-expressing IL-2 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (IL-2+ GM-CSF+ TH 17.1 cells, P = 0.04). A significant fall in β-cell-targeted (proinsulin-specific) IL-17A-secreting T cells was also seen (P = 0.0003). Although exploratory, our data suggest a role for an activated subset of TH 17.1 cells in T1D that can be targeted with minimal adverse effects to reduce C-peptide loss, which requires confirmation in a larger study. (International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number Registry: ISRCTN 14274380)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)- Published
- 2024
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