Genetic Modifiers of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Liver Disease

NCT00804583 | Active Not Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 01-1421R01DK066368
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 154
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study examines "modifier genes" that may play a role in the development of CF liver disease. Modifier genes are genes, other than the CF gene (CFTR), which may directly or indirectly have an affect on how the body responds to the conditions that develop as the result of the defective CFTR gene. Scientists have wondered why some patients with CF develop CF liver disease and why some patients with CF do not. To better understand the problem, this study was designed to examine the genetic makeup of CF patients who are considered to have severe liver disease to see if they can identify any modifier genes. Researchers will study blood samples, pulmonary function tests, and other medical information in hopes that a connection can be made between genetic make-up and how severe the liver disease is. The identification of modifier genes that influence disease severity may ultimately lead to a better understanding of CF liver disease, and may be useful in the development of new treatments.

Conditions

Cystic Fibrosis; Liver Disease

Keywords

Cystic Fibrosis; Liver Disease; Genetic Modifiers

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• This is not an interventional study

  One Year

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 2 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

CF and liver disease

You may qualify if:

• Volunteers with CF, regardless of genotype and age, who have "severe" liver disease with portal hypertension (big spleen, i.e. "splenomegaly" and/or presence of enlarged vessels in the esophagus, i.e. esophageal varices) may be eligible to participate. This would include any person who has been evaluated for a liver transplant, or has already received a liver transplant.

You may not qualify if:

• History of Alcohol Abuse
• History of Biliary Atresia
• History of Clinically Significant Hepatitis Infection
• History of Hepatic Vein Thrombosis
• History of Liver Cancer
• History of Portal Vein Thrombosis
• History of Clinically Significant use of total parenteral nutrition (TPN)
• History of Wilson's Disease

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill: lead
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK): collaborator
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States

Location

Related Publications (11)

• Mencin A, Seki E, Osawa Y, Kodama Y, De Minicis S, Knowles M, Brenner DA. Alpha-1 antitrypsin Z protein (PiZ) increases hepatic fibrosis in a murine model of cholestasis. Hepatology. 2007 Nov;46(5):1443-52. doi: 10.1002/hep.21832.

  PMID: 17668872 BACKGROUND

• Bartlett JR, Friedman KJ, Ling SC, Pace RG, Bell SC, Bourke B, Castaldo G, Castellani C, Cipolli M, Colombo C, Colombo JL, Debray D, Fernandez A, Lacaille F, Macek M Jr, Rowland M, Salvatore F, Taylor CJ, Wainwright C, Wilschanski M, Zemkova D, Hannah WB, Phillips MJ, Corey M, Zielenski J, Dorfman R, Wang Y, Zou F, Silverman LM, Drumm ML, Wright FA, Lange EM, Durie PR, Knowles MR; Gene Modifier Study Group. Genetic modifiers of liver disease in cystic fibrosis. JAMA. 2009 Sep 9;302(10):1076-83. doi: 10.1001/jama.2009.1295.

  PMID: 19738092 BACKGROUND

• Friedman, K.J., S.C. Ling, E.M. Lange, M. Macek, Jr., A.J. Handler, R.G. Pace, F. Zou, D.R. Mack, S.C. Bell, G. Castaldo, F. Salvatore, U. Ozcelik, B. Tuemmler, M. Sinaasappel, J.L. Colombo, H. Kayserova, M. Phillips, J. Zielenski, L. Tsui, M.L. Drumm, L.M. Silverman, F.A Wright, P.R Durie, M.R. Knowles, Genetic Modifiers of Severe Liver Disease in Cystic Fibrosis, Pediatr Pulmonol Suppl 28:247:170, 2005.

  BACKGROUND

• Friedman, K.J., S.C. Ling, E.M. Lange, M. Macek, Jr., A.J. Handler, R.G. Pace, F. Zou, S.C. Bell, G. Castaldo, F. Salvatore, C. Colombo, M.J. Phillips, J. Zielenski, L.C. Tsui, M.L. Drumm, L.M. Silverman, F.A Wright, P.R Durie, M.R. Knowles, Genetic Modifiers of Severe Liver Disease in Cystic Fibrosis, 55th Annual Meeting The American Society of Human Genetics, Salt Lake City, UT, 395:2176/F, 2005.

  BACKGROUND

• Sun L, Rommens JM, Corvol H, Li W, Li X, Chiang TA, Lin F, Dorfman R, Busson PF, Parekh RV, Zelenika D, Blackman SM, Corey M, Doshi VK, Henderson L, Naughton KM, O'Neal WK, Pace RG, Stonebraker JR, Wood SD, Wright FA, Zielenski J, Clement A, Drumm ML, Boelle PY, Cutting GR, Knowles MR, Durie PR, Strug LJ. Multiple apical plasma membrane constituents are associated with susceptibility to meconium ileus in individuals with cystic fibrosis. Nat Genet. 2012 May;44(5):562-9. doi: 10.1038/ng.2221.

  PMID: 22466613 BACKGROUND

• Knowles MR, Drumm M. The influence of genetics on cystic fibrosis phenotypes. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2012 Dec 1;2(12):a009548. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a009548.

  PMID: 23209180 BACKGROUND

• Blackman SM, Commander CW, Watson C, Arcara KM, Strug LJ, Stonebraker JR, Wright FA, Rommens JM, Sun L, Pace RG, Norris SA, Durie PR, Drumm ML, Knowles MR, Cutting GR. Genetic modifiers of cystic fibrosis-related diabetes. Diabetes. 2013 Oct;62(10):3627-35. doi: 10.2337/db13-0510. Epub 2013 May 13.

  PMID: 23670970 BACKGROUND

• Stonebraker JR, Ooi CY, Pace RG, Corvol H, Knowles MR, Durie PR, Ling SC. Features of Severe Liver Disease With Portal Hypertension in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016 Aug;14(8):1207-1215.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2016.03.041. Epub 2016 Apr 5.

  PMID: 27062904 BACKGROUND

• Polineni D, Piccorelli AV, Hannah WB, Dalrymple SN, Pace RG, Durie PR, Ling SC, Knowles MR, Stonebraker JR. Analysis of a large cohort of cystic fibrosis patients with severe liver disease indicates lung function decline does not significantly differ from that of the general cystic fibrosis population. PLoS One. 2018 Oct 11;13(10):e0205257. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205257. eCollection 2018.

  PMID: 30307979 BACKGROUND

• Raraigh KS, Aksit MA, Hetrick K, Pace RG, Ling H, O'Neal W, Blue E, Zhou YH, Bamshad MJ, Blackman SM, Gibson RL, Knowles MR, Cutting GR. Complete CFTR gene sequencing in 5,058 individuals with cystic fibrosis informs variant-specific treatment. J Cyst Fibros. 2022 May;21(3):463-470. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2021.10.011. Epub 2021 Nov 12.

  PMID: 34782259 BACKGROUND

• Rosenfeld M, Faino AV, Onchiri F, Aksit MA, Blackman SM, Blue EE, Collaco JM, Gordon WW, Pace RG, Raraigh KS, Zhou YH, Cutting GR, Knowles MR, Bamshad MJ, Gibson RL. Comparing encounter-based and annualized chronic pseudomonas infection definitions in cystic fibrosis. J Cyst Fibros. 2022 Jan;21(1):40-44. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2021.07.020. Epub 2021 Aug 13.

  PMID: 34393091 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• Genetic Modifiers of Cystic Fibrosis Lung and Liver Disease

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITH DNA

A one time blood draw of 35 mls

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cystic Fibrosis; Liver Diseases

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pancreatic Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities; Infant, Newborn, Diseases

Study Officials

• Wanda K O'Neal, PhD

  University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 8, 2008
• First Posted: December 9, 2008
• Study Start: March 1, 2004
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2027
• Last Updated: September 23, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Locations

US (1)