Peter Vernon van Heerden1†
Avraham Abutbul2†Sigal Sviri2Eitan Zlotnick3Ahmad Nama4Sebastian Zimro1Raja el-Amore3Yehudit Shabat5Barak Reicher5Batla Falah6
Dror Mevorach3,7*- 1General Intensive Care Unit, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
- 2Medical Intensive Care Unit, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
- 3Rheumatology and Rare Disease Research Center, The Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center and School, Jerusalem, Israel
- 4Department of Emergency Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center and School, Jerusalem, Israel
- 5Department of Research, Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd., Ness-Ziona, Israel
- 6Department of Cardiology, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
- 7Department of Medicine, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
Background: Sepsis has no proven specific pharmacologic treatment and reported mortality ranges from 30%–45%. The primary aim of this phase IB study was to determine the safety profile of Allocetra™-OTS (early apoptotic cell) infusion in subjects presenting to the emergency room with sepsis. The secondary aims were to measure organ dysfunction, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stays, and mortality. Exploratory endpoints included measuring immune modulator agents to elucidate the mechanism of action.
Methods: Ten patients presenting to the emergency room at the Hadassah Medical Center with sepsis were enrolled in this phase Ib clinical study. Enrolled patients were males and females aged 51–83 years, who had a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score ≥2 above baseline and were septic due to presumed infection. Allocetra™-OTS was administered as a single dose (day +1) or in two doses of 140×106 cells/kg on (day +1 and +3), following initiation of standard-of-care (SOC) treatment for septic patients. Safety was evaluated by serious adverse events (SAEs) and adverse events (AEs). Organ dysfunction, ICU and hospital stays, and mortality, were compared to historical controls. Immune modulator agents were measured using Luminex® multiplex analysis.
Results: All 10 patients had mild-to-moderate sepsis with SOFA scores ranging from 2–6 upon entering the study. No SAEs and no related AEs were reported. All 10 study subjects survived, while matched historical controls had a mortality rate of 27%. The study subjects exhibited rapid resolution of organ dysfunction and had significantly shorter ICU stays compared to matched historical controls (p<0.0001). All patients had both elevated pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and additional immune modulators that gradually decreased following treatment.
Conclusion: Administration of apoptotic cells to patients with mild-to-moderate sepsis was safe and had a significant immuno-modulating effect, leading to early resolution of the cytokine storm.
Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03925857. (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT03925857).
1 Introduction
Sepsis, identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global health priority, has no specific proven pharmacologic treatment other than appropriate antibiotics, intravenous fluids, vasopressors as needed, and possibly corticosteroids (1–4). The reported death rate from sepsis in hospitalized patients ranges between 30% and 45% (5–10).
In sepsis, binding of either pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) to complement, toll-like receptors (TLRs), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD) like receptors, retinoic acid-inducible gene (RIG)like receptors, mannose-binding lectin, and scavenger receptors, among others, induces a complex intracellular signaling system with redundant and complementary activities (11, 12). Triggering of innate immunity assures a common response pattern, regulated by the level and variation of the repertoire of PAMPs and DAMPs, and the resulting signaling pathways that are activated. This sequence of events leads to the expression of several common classes of genes that are involved in inflammation, adaptive immunity, and cellular metabolism. The complementary nature of the pathways explains the overlapping yet unique early inflammatory response to common Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial, fungal, and viral infections, as well as tissue injury.
Interestingly, and as summarized recently, apoptotic cells in general, and Allocetra-OTS (Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd, Nes Ziona, Israel) specifically, were shown to have a modulating effect on cytokine storms, with downregulation of both anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines derived from PAMPs and DAMPs, in both animal and human in vitro models (13). Therefore, the current study was designed to examine the safety and the possible beneficial immuno-modulating effects of early apoptotic cells (Allocetra-OTS, Enlilvex Therapeutics Ltd., Nes-Ziona, Israel) administered to patients presenting with sepsis. In a previous dose-escalating clinical study enrolling patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation who had an elevated cytokine profile, matched apoptotic cells were shown to be safe and efficacious with a dose-dependent effect starting at 140×106 cells/kg (14). This dose, administered in either one or two treatments, was chosen for the current study. In addition, the outcome of study subjects in this safety trial were compared to historical matched controls to compare outcomes at 28 days.
2 Materials and Methods
2.1 Study Design
This was a company (Enlivex Therapeutics)-sponsored study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03925857). The primary aim of this phase Ib study was to determine the safety profile and tolerability (dose-limiting toxicity) of Allocetra-OTS infusion in subjects presenting to the emergency room with sepsis. The secondary aims were to determine the preliminary efficacy on reducing organ dysfunction; intensive care unit (ICU), intermediate care unit (IMU), and hospital stays; and mortality.
Adult males and females aged 18–85 years, weighing at least 40 kg and with a predicted life expectancy of at least 6 months at the time of the screening, who had a SOFA score >2 above baseline and had sepsis from presumed infection were included. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy, positive serology for HIV, performance status less than 80%, or serious organ dysfunction (e.g. left ventricular ejection fraction <40%, pulmonary forced vital capacity <60% of predicted, liver transaminases >2.5× the upper limit of normal, serum bilirubin >3 mg/dL, or creatinine >2.5 mg/dL.
Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were measured at enrollment and at each study time point. We also obtained blood samples for exploratory biological tests including pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, leptin, ghrelin, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 1 (TREM1), an endocrinology panel, cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free throxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), growth hormone, glucagon, and insulin. An autoimmune serology panel that included antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-DNA, anti-RNP, anti-Sjögren’s-syndrome-related antigen A (SSA), anti-Sjögren’s-syndrome-related antigen B (SSB), cardiolipin IgG, and cardiolipin IgM was also taken.
Allocetra-OTS was administered as a single dose (cohort 1) of 140×106 cells/kg on day +1 (day 0 was time of diagnosis at the ER) or in two doses (cohort 2) of 140×106 cells/kg on days +1 and +3, following initiation of standard-of-care (SOC) treatment for septic patients, as outlined by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (14, 15). Interim safety analyses were performed by the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) after three and six patients from cohort 1 had completed study day 14, and after four additional patients from cohort 2 had completed study day 28.
2.2 Alloctera-OTS Preparation
Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd. has developed a product named Allocetra-OTS based on the known activity of naturally occurring apoptotic cells to induce a pro-homeostatic state for both macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) (13, 14, 16–18) that contributes to the maintenance of peripheral homeostasis of almost all immune-triggered mechanisms in sepsis. Allocetra-OTS is composed of frozen non-human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched mononuclear enriched leukocytes derived from one donor to each patient, containing at least 40% early apoptotic cells, in the form of a liquid suspension that is administered intravenously (IV). Following controlled thawing, cells are incubated with corticosteroids that are washed in order to achieve an early apoptotic state. The cells are then washed again, eliminating both corticosteroid residues as well as material that may have been secreted by apoptotic cells. Once the cells are in an early apoptotic state, they are preserved at 2-8°C. They are further Gamma or X-ray irradiated at 4000cGy to prevent T cell proliferation of potentially viable cells, and therefore avoid the possible development of an acute GvHD-like response. Following irradiation, the product is stable for up to 96 hours and kept at 2-8°C to avoid progression of apoptosis.
2.3 Matched Historical Controls
The local ethics committee also approved (#0267-19-HMO) a search for matched controls that were selected from the digital records of all hospitalized patients treated in the same units as the study patients. Controls were selected from patients who were hospitalized only in an ICU or an IMU at the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, during the years 2014–2019 (the standard of care was very similar during these years), and matched by gender, age ( ± 7 years), source of infection (i.e., pneumonia, urinary tract, biliary tract, or endovascular), and SOFA score ( ± 2) at diagnosis. Outcomes for the matched controls were compared to those for the study cohort at 28 days.
The total number of potential controls was 24,172 patients including 18,078 pneumonia patients, 5,370 UTI patients, 629 patients with biliary tract infection, and 95 patients with endovascular infection. Matching the characteristics of each of the 10 sepsis patients that were treated with Allocetra was done with a full match to the source of infection, SOFA score ±2, age ±7 years, and gender. A total of 37 matched historical control patients were identified, of whom 19 had pneumonia (Table 1). The process of identifying suitable controls was done by two physicians and reviewed by a third. All data was found in patients’ charts and SOFA scores were calculated retrospectively. Outcomes for the matched controls were compared to those of the study cohorts at 28 days. Source data was verified to confirm that the reported qualified data provided in the report matched the source.
Table 1 Characteristics of patients and historical matched-controls.
2.4 Luminex® Cytokine/Chemokine Analysis
Serum cytokine/chemokine measurement was performed using the Luminex MAGPIX system (Luminex Corp, Texas, USA) and analyzed with Milliplex analysis software (Millipore MA, USA).
2.5 ELISA Analysis
The following cytokines/chemokines were measured by sandwich ELISA kits: IL-18 (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA), MCP-3 (R&D), TNFR1 (R&D), TREM-1 (R&D), procalcitonin (PCT) (IBL-America, Minneapolis, MN, USA).
2.6 Autoantibodies and Anti-HLA Antibodies
Autoantibodies and anti-HLA antibodies were analyzed by the central laboratory of the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center.
2.7 Statistics
2.7.1 Clinical Data
Mortality was analyzed as time-to-event measurement and comparisons between treatment arms were presented using Kaplan Meier curves and the log rank test. Expected mortality estimation was based on patients’ Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores (19). Changes in SOFA score from entry into research to days 5, 7, and 28, maximum increase in SOFA score, and duration of hospitalization and ICU/IMU stays were analyzed as continuous variables. Means, standard deviations, medians, interquartile ranges, and ranges in each treatment group were presented and compared using the t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum test, as appropriate. Area under the curve for change in SOFA score was calculated using the trapezoidal rule and also analyzed as a continuous variable. Duration of hospitalization and ICU/IMU stays were analyzed as time to first discharge, presented in the Kaplan-Meier curves and treatment groups compared using the log rank test. All analyses were repeated for the entire population as well as for subgroups receiving one or two Allocetra-OTS doses, and for pneumonia alone. Statistical analysis was performed using R 3.5.1 (R Statistical Data Analysis).
2.7.2 Laboratory and Exploratory Tests
Correlation of any parameter to clinical score was evaluated by the Pearson correlation or by Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, with a coefficient ≥ 0.7 or ≤ -0.7 considered a strong correlation. Statistical analyses for laboratory tests were performed using GraphPad (Prism, San Diego, CA, USA).
3 Results
Sepsis was defined based on the Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (20). Twelve patients were screened, and ten were included in the study; patients 04 and 05 did not meet inclusion criteria. The DSMB met following inclusion of three (patients 01–03) and six patients (patients 01–03 and 06–08) for safety reviews and approval to continue the study, and for final review after 10 patients. Allocetra-OTS infusion in the first three patients met the protocol for defined safety criteria at day 14 and the study proceeded to the second round of patient recruitment (patients 06–08) at the same dose, which also met the protocol-defined criteria for safety. The study then proceeded to recruit four additional patients (cohort 2, patients 09–12), who received two doses of Allocetra-OTS. Patient characteristics are presented in Table 1.
3.1 Clinical Course
All study subjects fitted the definition of sepsis and inclusion criteria and were hospitalized on admission in either the ICU or the IMU. All patients had a Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of at least 13 (verbal 5/5) at enrollment due to the requirement to obtain consent directly from the study subject. At enrollment, the average APACHE II score was 12.9 (range 8–21) and the average SOFA score upon entry into the study was 3.4 (range 2–6). All patients fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria and met the 2016 definition of sepsis (20). In this study, any source of infection was included, and the patients presented with four types of infections: pneumonia (five patients treated with I.V. ceftriaxone), biliary tract infection (three patients treated with ceftriaxone), endovascular (one treated with I.V. vancomycin), and UTI (one treated with I.V. ceftriaxone) and received standard-of-care treatment for septic patients, as outlined by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (1–3).
All patients had at least two organ systems involved (range 2–5 systems). Acute kidney injury (three patients), cardiovascular involvement (three patients), hepatic involvement (seven patients), hematological (eight patients), and pulmonary involvement (five patients) were seen in the treated patients before investigational product (IP) administration. All patients recovered from the septic condition and were discharged alive from the hospital following the resolution of sepsis and were alive at completion of 28 days of follow-up.
3.2 Laboratory Results
Laboratory evaluation included complete blood count (CBC), biochemistry, blood gases, C-reactive protein (CRP), and lactate. Figure 1 shows their levels during the study period. In 5/10 patients, elevated white blood cells (WBC) counts were evident in the first days, with gradual return to normal levels (Figure 1A). Neutrophilia was observed on admission in 6/10 patients (Figure 1B) and lymphopenia in 9/10 patients (Figure 1C). All patients had a gradual increase in lymphocyte numbers and 6/9 (66%) recovered to normal levels whereas 3/9 (33%, patients 03, 06, 07) had moderate recovery levels. Elevated CRP declined in parallel with resolution of inflammation (Figure 1D). Two patients (07 and 12) had a slower decline of CRP. The first (patient 07) was a patient on chronic dialysis presenting with an endovascular infection that needed antibiotics for 6 weeks, and the second (12) was a patient with pneumonia and pleural effusion. Lactate levels were elevated in 3/10 patients upon admission (01, 02, 08) and were normal or near normal in the following days. Three patients had higher lactate levels on day 28 (01, 03, 09) despite clinical and laboratory resolution of sepsis, in the range of 3.4 to 6.5 mmol/L (normal value up to 2.2 mmol/L).
Figure 1 Acute phase markers. Complete blood count (CBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Blood counts of fresh peripheral patient blood ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) samples were performed using blood analyzer. The differential of white blood cells (WBC), i.e. WBC subpopulations, was calculated. ‘Screening’ is a time point with a blood count that was performed 24 ± 6h before treatment with Allocetra-OTS, to test for the patient’s eligibility for Allocetra-OTS treatment. ‘Day 1’ is a blood sample just prior to Allocetra-OTS infusion. Numbers (109 cells/L) of (A) WBCs, (B) neutrophils, and (C) lymphocytes, are shown. (D) CRP levels of all patients in the indicated time points. *Patients 09–12 received two doses of Allocetra-OTS (days 1 and 3).
3.3 Safety Parameters
Safety was evaluated by SAEs and AEs. All patients survived 28 days of follow-up. Of note, efficacy parameters (presented below), like survival, overlapped with additional safety parameters. There were no serious unexpected serious adverse reactions (SUSARs) and none of the subjects experienced an SAE, severe or moderate AE, or discontinued the study due to an AE. Nearly all subjects (9/10; 90%) experienced at least 1 AE and on average 4.4 AEs; The most common AEs were associated with laboratory investigations (Table 2). All were mild in intensity, and most were unrelated to IP. The six possibly related AEs were transiently elevated temperature, mild transient tachycardia, transient hypoglycemia, and transient dizziness, each in one patient, and rigor episodes in two patients receiving one dose. All these AEs could have been related to the septic condition. However, since the two episodes of rigors occurred in patients receiving a high infusion rate (>150 mL/h), the last 8 IP administrations were given at a slower infusion rate (up to 108 mL/hr) with no rigors documented.
Table 2 Complete list of adverse events.
3.4 Autoimmunity, Anti-HLA Antibodies, and Autoantibodies
No anti-HLA antibodies developed within 28 days following one dosage in the first 6 patients. Autoantibodies and autoimmunity were evaluated at initial screening and on day 28. No autoimmunity developed in any of the study subjects during the study period. The ANA screen, which is considered a major screening tool for autoantibodies, was negative at presentation in 8/10 patients and remained negative in all eight at day 28. In two patients it was low-positive before IP administration; it remained low-positive in one and disappeared in the second. IgM and IgG anticardiolipin were negative in 10/10 patients at screening and remained negative in all.
Anti-DNA was not examined at initial screening, due to negative ANA in most patients, but was negative in all patients examined at day 28. Anti-SSA/SSB/RNP/Sm were examined mainly on day 28 and in some patients at initial screening. Only one patient (08) had very low positive RNP (20.61 vs 20, which is defined as negative) on day 28. This was considered non-significant.
In conclusion, after administration of 14 IV doses of Allocetra-OTS in 10 patients, there was no evidence of autoimmunity or autoantibodies.
3.5 Preliminary Efficacy Results
3.5.1 Mortality
No deaths occurred among the 10 study subjects. APACHE II scores for subjects in the current study are presented in Table 1. The average score at diagnosis was 12.9 (range 8–21). Overall probability of mortality was 20% (range 8–40%), with no significant differences between the subgroups of patients.
In patients with sepsis, an elevated SOFA score at presentation also reflects an increased risk of mortality. In one study that included >180,000 patients hospitalized with sepsis, a SOFA score of 2–6 at presentation (Table 1) corresponded to predicted mortality of 7–15% (21).
In addition, a total of 37 matched controls were identified for the 10 patients in the study based on the criteria of sepsis, admission to ICU/IMU, source of infection, SOFA score ±2, age ±7 years, and gender. Table 1 shows the characteristics of controls compared to study subjects. A comparison of survival between the study group and historical controls, in all the patients and in the subgroup of patients with pneumonia, is shown in Figure 2. Among the 37 matched historical control patients, 10 died (27%, p-value using log rank test=0.078). Although a larger sample is needed to draw definite statistical conclusions regarding survival, predicted mortality based on the APACHE II and SOFA scores at presentation would have been a high probability of at least one death in these 10 patients.
Figure 2 Kaplan-Meier survival curve. A comparison of survival between the study group (n=10) and matched-historical controls from the same hospital (n=37) for (A) all patients, and (B) patients with pneumonia (n=5 for the study group, n=19 for the historical controls), is shown. Matched controls were selected from all patients admitted to ICU with a diagnosis of sepsis between 2014–2019 and were matched by gender, age ± 7, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score ±2 at presentation, and source of infection.
3.5.2 Organ Dysfunction
Organ dysfunction improvement was a preliminary efficacy parameter tested in this study. No residual organ dysfunction was seen in any of the 10 study subjects at 28 days.
3.5.2.1 CNS
All patients finished 28 days of follow-up with a GCS of 15/15.
3.5.2.2 Kidneys
Apart from patient 07, who was on chronic dialysis at admission, 3/9 patients (33%) had new-onset renal injury, and all had completely recovered to baseline kidney function as measured by creatinine level at 28 days.
3.5.2.3 Lungs
5/10 (50%) of patients had lung involvement. No patient required mechanical ventilation. All patients recovered from lung dysfunction, had normal oxygen saturation, and needed no oxygen supplement at discharge.
3.5.2.4 Cardiovascular
Three patients had mean arterial pressure <70mmHg but none needed vasopressors. Cardiac evaluation was based on clinical evaluation, ECG in all patients, troponin if indicated, and echocardiogram as indicated (needed in one patient). All patients had normal sinus rhythm or tachycardia upon screening, with no evidence of ischemia during their illness. One patient with known paroxysmal atrial fibrillation had a transient episode of atrial fibrillation. Troponin was measured in four patients and was normal in all. One patient (01) underwent transthoracic echocardiography during his admission for the investigation of chest pain and elevated troponin levels following an episode of supraventricular tachycardia and electrical shock (DC cardioversion) before screening and entry to the study. Follow-up echocardiography in this patient was performed at day 28. The results were comparable to the first evaluation.
3.5.2.5 Hematological
Significant thrombocytopenia occurred in 8/10 patients (80%) with complete recovery in all.
3.5.2.6 Liver
Hyperbilirubinemia occurred in four patients (40%) and three patients had a biliary tract infection; all four had a complete recovery. Elevated liver enzymes, aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the range of >×3 of normal range were seen in 5/10 patients with a complete recovery in all.
3.5.2.7 SOFA Score
In the absence of days on respirator and days on vasopressors, we used SOFA score to evaluate organ dysfunction. The SOFA score was introduced to describe organ failure severity in patients with sepsis, including a 4‐point assessment of dysfunction in each of six organ systems (17, 19, 22). In patients with sepsis, a SOFA score ≥2 at presentation reflects clinically relevant organ dysfunction and an increased risk of adverse outcomes (21). Apart from acute organ injury, we measured changes in the SOFA score from just before IP administration, maximal SOFA score, AUC of SOFA score above baseline, and time to SOFA score <2, and compared findings to those of the matched-historical controls. As shown in Table 1 and Figure 3, patients had SOFA scores correlating to mild-to-moderate sepsis. However, despite the similarity to SOFA scores at entry for historical-matched controls of (average of 3.4 versus 3.47), the enrollment SOFA score was the highest for the treated patients and it did not progress further (0 points) following treatment, while it progressed with a mean maximal increase of 3.57 (range 0–15, median 1) in the historical control population (Figure 3A; p<0.0001, t-test and Wilcoxon), suggesting inhibition of organ dysfunction deterioration with Allocetra-OTS treatment. In historical matched controls with pneumonia, it went even higher, to a mean of +4.42 (range 0–15, median 4) (p<0.0001, t-test, and 0.0166, Wilcoxon).
Figure 3 SOFA score progression during sepsis. (A) SOFA score at presentation compared to maximal SOFA score. (B–D) Change in SOFA score before administration of Allocetra-OTS and day 5 (B), day 7 (C), and day 28 (D). Average delta area under the curve (AUC) in the first (E) five days, and (F) seven days. Matched controls were selected from all patients admitted to ICU under the diagnosis of sepsis between 2014–2019 and were matched by gender, age ±7 years, SOFA score ±2 at presentation, and source of infection. Data is presented as the median within the interquartile range (IQR); mean values are marked with a ‘+’ sign; error bars represent the 10-90 percentile, with outliers presented.
We further measured the change in mean SOFA score between day 1 before treatment with Allocetra-OTS and at days 5, 7, and 28. At these time points, the scores were significantly higher in the historical-matched controls compared to patients in the current study (Figures 3B–D; average delta SOFA score between day 1–5, day 1–7, and day 1–28, p<0.0001, t test for all, and 0.0035, 0.001, and 0.0019, Wilcoxon, respectively). We also measured the average change in the area under the curve (AUC) between days 1 and 5 and between days 1 and 7 (Figures 3E, F); all changes showed significant amelioration (average AUC between day 1–5 and day 1–7, both p<0.0001, t test, and 0.0011, Wilcoxon). In historical matched controls with pneumonia, it went even higher, to a mean increase of 4.42 (range 0–15, median 4; p<0.0001 t-test, and 0.0166 Wilcoxon). These data suggest that the favorable clinical outcomes are reflected by lack of SOFA score progression as manifested by maximal SOFA score, delta SOFA score, and the average change in AUC. We must emphasize the limitation of using historical controls that were matched as possible in demographic characteristics and SOFA score upon entry. Yet, the historical controls had a slightly increased APACHE II score (15 versus 12.3, Table 1) that could predict worse prognosis.
3.5.3 Time in ICU/IMU and Hospital
Since organ dysfunction was significantly improved and no mortality occurred, we were next interested to verify that these promising results were expressed in the duration of ICU/IMU and hospital stay. Since all patients in the study group survived, we analyzed duration of stay in the hospital and in ICU/IMU for all patients in the study and for all surviving patients in the matched historical control group (Figure 4).
Figure 4 Hospital and ICU/IMU duration of stay. The duration of stay for all patients in the study and for all patients in the matched historical control group who survived is presented (A) in the hospital and (B) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or the Intermediate Medical Unit (IMU). Kaplan-Meier curves describing time-to-discharge from the (C) hospital and (D) ICU/IMU are presented. Matched controls were selected from all patients admitted to ICU/IMU with the diagnosis of sepsis between 2014–2019 and were matched by gender, age ±7, SOFA score ±2 at presentation, and source of infection. Data is presented as the median within the interquartile range (IQR); mean values are marked with a ‘+’ sign; error bars represent the 10–90 percentile, with outliers presented.
The mean hospital length-of-stay was significantly shorter for all sepsis patients treated with Allocetra-OTS (11.4 ± 7.57 days, range 4–28, median 9), and for patients with pneumonia (11.2 ± 6.38 days, range 6–22, median 10), compared to the averages for matched-historical controls of for all patients (Figure 4A; 17.3 ± 8.8 days, 3–28, median 17; p< 0.0488 t-test, p<0.042 Wilcoxon), and for patients with pneumonia, average 18.84 days (range 6–28, median 19; p< 0.0552 t-test, p< 0.0484, Wilcoxon). The ICU length-of-stay was significantly shorter for all treated patients, average 4.7 days (range 2–8, median 4), and for patients with pneumonia, average 3.4 days (range 2–6, median 2) compared to averages for all matched controls, 11.1 days (Figure 4B; 1–28, median 8; p< <0.0001 t-test, p< 0.092, Wilcoxon) and patients with pneumonia, 13.89 days (range 1–28, median 11; p<0.0001 t-test, p< 0.0233 Wilcoxon).
In addition, time-to-discharge from the hospital and/or ICU/IMU (Figures 4C, D) was compared. Length of hospitalization was analyzed as a time-to-event variable, comparing time to discharge from the general hospital and the ICU between treatment groups. In this analysis, events of mortality were referred to as no discharge event and the length of follow-up was censored at time of death. Times to hospital and ICU/IMU discharge were significantly shorter for the treated group (log rank p=0.00085 and p=0.00096, respectively).
3.6 Exploratory Endpoints. Effect of Allocetra-OTS on Cytokines/Chemokines/Growth Factors and Immuno-Modulating Agents
3.6.1 Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines
Pro-inflammatory cytokines regulate early responses to bacterial infection and mediate the early acute phase in sepsis. Cytokines like IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α act as endogenous pyrogens, upregulate the synthesis of secondary mediators and other pro-inflammatory cytokines by both macrophages and mesenchymal cells such as fibroblasts, epithelial, and endothelial cells, and stimulate the production of acute-phase proteins or attract inflammatory cells (23). Eight pro-inflammatory cytokines were tested, including IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-12p70, IL-18, IL-23, IFN-γ and IL-13; five of those were detectable (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL, IL-18, IFN-γ) and are presented here (Figure 5).
Figure 5 Pro-inflammatory cytokine kinetics during sepsis. Serum was obtained from patients at the indicated times and cytokine analysis was performed as described in Methods. The serum of three healthy volunteers was analyzed using the same methods and values are presented as the normal range (median ± range). Serum concentrations of (A) IL-6, (B) TNF-α, (C) IL-1β, (D) IL-18, and (E) IFN-γ are presented. Patients 01–08 received one dose of Allocetra-OTS on day 1 and patients 09–12 received two doses on days 1 and 3.
Overall, all patients had elevated TNF-a and IL-6 levels at initial screening, and most had elevated IL-1β and IL-18, while some had elevated IFN-γ; however, a gradual decrease in levels of all of the cytokines studied was observed upon resolution of sepsis. These trends of pro-inflammatory cytokines were characteristic of most of the patients.
3.6.2 Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines
Interestingly, anti-inflammatory cytokines are also upregulated in sepsis in parallel to pro-inflammatory cytokines (Figure 6) and are suggested to have a late contribution to sepsis-related immunosuppression (24). Four anti-inflammatory cytokines were tested, including IL-10 (Figure 6A), IL-1Ra (Figure 6B), IL-27, and soluble TNFR-1 (Figure 6C). IL-27 was not detected in our patients. Overall, the trend of the anti-inflammatory cytokines resembled that of the pro-inflammatory cytokines. Most patients had elevated IL-10, IL-1Ra, and TNFR-1, which gradually decreased as sepsis resolved.
Figure 6 Anti-Inflammatory cytokine and growth factor kinetics during sepsis. Serum was obtained from patients at the indicated times and cytokine/growth factor analysis was performed as described in Methods. The serum of three healthy volunteers was analyzed using the same methods and values are presented as the normal range (median ± range). Serum concentrations of (A) IL-10, (B) IL-1Ra, (C) TNFR-1 are presented in the upper panel, (D) G-CSF, (E) VEGF, and (F) GM-CSF are presented in the lower panel. Patients 01–08 received one dose of Allocetra-OTS on day 1 and patients 09–12 received two doses on days 1 and 3.
3.6.3 Hematopoietic Growth Factors (HGFs)
During sepsis, immune cells undergo profound phenotypic modifications in their activation state, response to stimuli, and localization. These phenomena are finely regulated by various cytokines and HGFs. An HGF is a relatively stable, secreted, or membrane-bound glycoprotein that causes immune cells to mature and/or proliferate and also have profound effects on cell functions and behaviors. HGFs are deeply involved in sepsis pathophysiology both in the initial and the late phases (25). Four growth factors were tested in the study, including G-CSF (Figure 6D), VEGF (Figure 6E), GM-CSF (Figure 6F) and LIF (a growth factor-like cytokine), which was undetected. Overall, the trend of the HGFs resembled that of the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Most patients presented with elevated G-CSF, VEGF, and to a lesser extent GM-CSF, at initial screening; for all, a gradual decrease upon resolution of sepsis was observed. These trends of HGFs were characteristic of most patients that received a single dose of Allocetra-OTS.
3.6.4 Chemokines
Chemokines play pivotal roles in regulating the migration and infiltration of monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils to sites of inflammation, and as such, they are usually involved in sepsis (26). Six chemokines were tested and are presented here, including monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10), macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1α), IL-8, growth regulated protein beta (Gro-β), and regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). Overall, most patients were screened with elevated MCP-1, IP-10, MIP-1α and IL-8; for all, a gradual decrease upon resolution of sepsis was observed (Figure 7). Of exception were Gro-β and RANTES, which were detected in most patients below the normal levels and increased upon resolution of sepsis. These trends of chemokines were characteristic to most of the patients that received a single dose of Allocetra-OTS.
Figure 7 Chemokine kinetics during sepsis. Serum was obtained from patients at the indicated times and cytokine/growth factor analysis was performed as described in Methods. The serum of three healthy volunteers was analyzed using the same methods and values are presented as the normal range (median ± range). Serum concentrations of (A) MCP-1, (B) IP-10, (C) MIP-1α, (D) IL-8, (E) GRO-β, and (F) RANTES are presented. Patients 01–08 received one dose of Allocetra-OTS on day 1 and patients 09–12 received two doses on days 1 and 3.
3.6.5 Other Immuno-Modulating Agents
Other factors were also tested as part of the immune modulating effect of Allocetra-OTS on the resolution of sepsis (Figure 8). These factors included TREM-1, osteopontin, NGAL, gherlin, and leptin (Figures 8A–E), and several endocrinological hormones (Figures 8F–H).
Figure 8 Immune modulator and endocrine hormone kinetics during sepsis. Serum was obtained from patients at the indicated times and cytokine/growth factors analysis was performed as described in Methods. The serum of three healthy volunteers was analyzed using the same methods and values presented as the normal range (median ± range). Serum concentrations of (A) TREM-1, (B) osteopontin, (C) N-GAL, (D) ghrelin, (E) leptin, and (F) glucagon, (G) cortisol, and (H) FT3 are presented in the lower panel. Patients 01–08 received one dose of Allocetra-OTS on day 1 and patients 09–12 received two doses on days 1 and 3.
3.6.5.1 Miscellaneous Immuno-Modulating Factors
Overall, all the patients presented with elevated TREM-1 and OPN and most had elevated NGAL and leptin levels; for all, a gradual decrease upon resolution of sepsis was observed. Of exception is ghrelin, which was below the normal levels in all the patients at presentation and increased upon resolution of sepsis. These trends of immuno-modulating factors were characteristic of most of the patients that received a single dose of Allocetra-OTS.
3.6.6 Endocrinology Kinetics
Five hormones were tested in all subjects: cortisol, FT3, FT4, glucagon and insulin. Additional hormones (TSH, ACTH and GH) were tested in some subjects. Sepsis is considered an acute stress response with a release of stress hormones including cortisol and glucagon (27). There were elevated cortisol levels in 7/10 patients at presentation, with the average of all patients being above normal (752 nmol/L, normal range of 140–690 nmol/L). Patients 03 and 12 (both with pneumonia) had the highest levels of cortisol at screening. Following Allocetra-OTS infusion, cortisol levels were downregulated (including Patient 03), reaching normal concentrations by Day 28 (Figure 8G). Interestingly, serum glucagon had similar kinetics to cortisol, and 7/10 patients had high glucagon at screening (average level of all patients = 150pg/ml, range 32–285 pg/ml) compared to normal (average of 73 pg/ml, range 30–115 pg/ml), with a rapid decline in the first 2–3 days reaching low levels on day 28 (Figure 8F). Insulin levels were in the low normal range upon presentation (opposite to glucagon) and the levels were normalized upon resolution of sepsis. ACTH and GH were tested in some subjects and were within the normal range throughout the study, except for patient 07 (chronic dialysis) who had elevated ACTH levels on day 28 (21.5 pMol/L versus normal levels up to 13.5). All patients were screened for FT3 and FT4 levels and all had low normal or below normal FT3 levels (Figure 8H) with gradual increase thereafter as sepsis resolved, but normal FT4 and TSH levels at presentation and during the resolution of sepsis. These changes in serum thyroid function associated with acute illness have been termed ‘sick euthyroid syndrome’ or ‘low T3 syndrome’. FT3 production during the acute stress response in sepsis is inhibited by both cortisol and IL-6 (28–30). We therefore tested whether the recovery of FT3 seen in the patients was linked to the downregulation of IL-6 and/or cortisol. Indeed, a strong negative correlation was found between FT3 and IL-6 (ρ-Spearman= -0.73) and an intermediate negative correlation was found between FT3 and cortisol and FT3 and glucagon (ρ-Spearman= -0.54, -0.56, respectively). The euthyroid sick syndrome should thus not be viewed as an isolated pathologic event but as part of a coordinated systemic reaction to sepsis involving both the immune and endocrine systems.
3.7 Summary
In summary, most patients had elevated pro-, and anti-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines/immune modulators/stress factors, with a gradual normalization upon resolution of sepsis (Figures 5–8). The physiological responses to acute stress in sepsis results from the activation of an array of factors, including immunological, neural, and hormonal pathways that pose a threat to the homeostasis of the organism and elicit a common series of adaptive physiological responses. We created a heat map (Figure 9), correlating the different immunological components of the response to stress to blood counts and SOFA score. As shown, high correlation is seen between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, HGFs with WBC counts, neutrophils, CRP, and most importantly with SOFA score. Inverse characteristic correlation is shown with lymphocyte counts and the chemokines Gro-β and RANTES.
Figure 9 Correlation matrix of cytokines, chemokines, and immunomodulators with SOFA score, CRP, and blood counts. A correlation heat-map of the tested cytokines/chemokines, HGFs, and immunomodulators with CRP, SOFA score, and blood counts. Pearson’s r values are on the top right and the Spearman’s ρ values are on the bottom left.
4 Discussion
Apoptotic cells have immunomodulatory functions via their interaction with macrophages and dendritic cells, and their administration as a potential therapeutic intervention has been suggested (13, 14, 31–33). In addition to physical interaction, immunomodulation by apoptotic cell-secretion of various paracrine factors was suggested by us (34) and others (35) and was used in treatments for myocardial infarction (36–38) and dermal wound-healing (39). Unlike stressed PBMC-derived secretomes, the preparation of Allocetra-OTS is unique, with an emphasis on cells in the early stages of apoptosis (i.e. apoptotic cells are Annexin V+ propidium iodide–) to avoid any effect by necrotic cells. Preparation includes several washing steps, yielding only a cellular active fraction, reducing the content of potential secreted factors.
Although not all the molecular events underlying the potential immune-regulating function of apoptotic cells are clear, changes in macrophages and dendritic cells towards a homeostatic phenotype have been investigated by several authors and implicated in apoptotic cell-mediated immune modulation [reviewed by (13, 32, 33)]. Local administration of apoptotic cells has been used to attenuate both bleomycin- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung inflammation, with reduced neutrophil recruitment into the lung, enhanced phagocytosis by alveolar macrophages, and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production (40). Infusion of apoptotic cells 24 hours after initiation of sepsis has also been shown to protect against mortality in a mouse model of sepsis, with reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine and neutrophil recruitment into organs (41).
We cannot exclude an antimicrobial effect by apoptotic cells as suggested by Kasiri et al. that was observed in an in-vitro study (42). However, since Allocetra-OTS was given in addition to antibiotics, we think the main antimicrobial effect was by antibiotics.
Many of the measured cytokines/chemokines/immune-modulators were proven to be pathogenic in sepsis and septic shock; however, single targeting of cytokines did not ameliorate sepsis in many trials using anti-TNF, anti-IL-1β, and other cytokines (43).
Interestingly, and as suggested elsewhere, anti-inflammatory cytokines are also elevated early in the course of sepsis. This supported the notion that secretion of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators in septic shock occurs as a simultaneous immune response program initiated early in the course of the disease (44), and in severe sepsis the IL-10/lymphocyte ratio was significantly correlated with the APACHE II score and strongly predicted 28-day mortality (45). Apoptotic cell infusion represents a more holistic approach, leading to rebalancing of all pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, growth factors, and other immuno-modulating agents, and reprogramming of monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells (13).
In the first few days of clinically apparent infection, there is an innate immune response in all patients. Gene expression studies have shown that transcripts from sepsis and severe viral infections involve pathways associated with signaling through TLRs, IL-27, IL-12, IFN-γ, type I IFN-inducible transcripts, and the JAK-STAT pathway. These molecules are overabundant in the acute phase. These elevated levels persist until defervescence occurs and may lead to endothelial dysfunction (45). The mechanism through which cytokines such as TNF might mediate endothelial dysfunction are not clear, though changes in the integrity of inter-endothelial cell junctions is a possible cause. Most permeability-inducing factors bind to endothelial cell plasma membrane receptors, activate heterotrimeric G proteins, and cause an increase in intracellular Ca2+. This results in myosin-driven endothelial contraction and opening of tight junctions. In some viral diseases, increased capillary permeability occurs when viremia is in steep decline and serum cytokine concentrations are at or near their peak levels (46). In addition, pathogen-induced lung injury can progress into acute lung injury or its more severe form, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), as seen with sepsis and SARS-CoV or viral influenza infections.
4.1 Conclusions
These results may reflect a novel and safe mechanism for treatment of sepsis and diseases associated with cytokine storm such as flu complications, acute lung injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome as seen in SARS-CoV and influenza virus infections (47), CAR-T therapy (48, 49), and the more recently described COVID-19 (50, 51). To further evaluate Allocetra™-OTS effectiveness, a randomized-controlled trial is needed.
Data Availability Statement
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors upon reasonable request. Requests to access the datasets should be directed to DM, (mevorachd@hadassah.org.il).
Ethics Statement
The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Human Subjects Review Board, The Helsinki Committee, Hadassa Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.
Author Contributions
PvH performed the study and wrote the manuscript. AA and SS performed the study and participated in writing. EZ, AN, SZ, and BF performed the study and collected data. Re-A and YS analyzed blood samples. BR prepared figures and participated in writing. DM designed the study and wrote the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
Funding
The study received funding from Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd. The funder was not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article or the decision to submit it for publication.
Conflict of Interest
PvH received honoraria from Enlivex Ltd as a consultant. DM is the founder, and CMO of Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd. YS and BR are part of the research team of Enlivex Therapeutics Ltd.
The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as potential conflicts of interest.
Publisher’s Note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
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Keywords: sepsis, Inflammation, pneumonia, apoptotic cells, cell therapeutics, cytokine storm
Citation: van Heerden PV, Abutbul A, Sviri S, Zlotnick E, Nama A, Zimro S, el-Amore R, Shabat Y, Reicher B, Falah B and Mevorach D (2021) Apoptotic Cells for Therapeutic Use in Cytokine Storm Associated With Sepsis– A Phase Ib Clinical Trial. Front. Immunol. 12:718191. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.718191
Received: 31 May 2021; Accepted: 14 September 2021;
Published: 30 September 2021.
Edited by:
Sylvain Perruche, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), FranceReviewed by:
Hendrik Jan Leonard Ankersmit, Medical University of Vienna, AustriaArnaud Millet, INSERM U1209 Institut pour l’Avancée des Biosciences (IAB), France
Copyright © 2021 van Heerden, Abutbul, Sviri, Zlotnick, Nama, Zimro, el-Amore, Shabat, Reicher, Falah and Mevorach. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Dror Mevorach, mevorachd@hadassah.org.il
†These authors have contributed equally to this work