Interferon Reference for Older People - REFIPA Study

NCT07239830 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 69HCL25_0689
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 62
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The diagnosis of respiratory viral infections is mainly based on PCR tests targeting the DNA or RNA of suspected viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, RSV and influenza viruses. However, this method is limited because it only tests for a small number of viruses, while many other pathogens can cause similar symptoms. As a result, respiratory viral infections are often underdiagnosed because not all possible viruses are systematically tested for. Another limitation of PCR tests is that they can detect residual viral genetic material long after the infection has ended, making it difficult to distinguish between an active infection and a past one. Viral load can help interpret the result, but it is not always reliable. It is therefore essential to have complementary markers that can indicate whether the detected virus is still in the active replication phase. An innovative approach is to measure the host's immune response, in particular the production of type I interferons (IFN-I), which are markers of active viral infection. Studies have shown that joint analysis of the IFN-I/III response and PCR tests improves the detection of viral respiratory infections by better discriminating between active infections. This method shows promise for refining diagnosis, particularly in cases where the viral load is low or ambiguous. These advances are particularly important for older patients, in whom viral infections have a severe impact. Ageing leads to a decline in immune function (immunosenescence), including a reduction in IFN-I production. This alteration could further complicate the interpretation of immune biomarkers in older people, highlighting the need to establish reference values specific to this population. In this context, the RESPIGERIA study (compliance with MR004 No. 24-5127) was launched to evaluate the IFN response in geriatric hospitalised patients with respiratory viral infections. However, there is still a lack of reference data on the IFN response in uninfected older individuals. Establishing a baseline IFN score in this population is essential in order to adapt diagnostic tools to age-related specificities.

Conditions

Immunosenescence; Uninfected Older

Keywords

respiratory viral infection; Type I Interferon response; Older People; host-based response diagnostic test

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Nasal IFN-I scores measurement in a non-infected geriatric population.

  IFN-I score will be measured by assessing the expression of a selection of IFN-I-stimulated genes.

  The primary outcome will be measured at inclusion visit only

• Blodd IFN-I scores measurement in a non-infected geriatric population.

  IFN-I score will be measured by assessing the expression of a selection of IFN-I-stimulated genes.

  The primary outcome will be measured at inclusion visit only

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Correlation between clinical parameters assessed by the Charlson score (comorbidities) and the Fried phenotype (frailty), and the basal blood and nasal interferon score

  The secondary outcome will be measured at inclusion visit only

• Correlation between immune parameters assessed by anti-IFN antibody concentration, concentration of lymphocyte subtypes expressing or not expressing exhaustion markers (Tim-3, PD-1, etc.) and basal blood and nasal interferon score.

  The secondary outcome will be measured at inclusion visit only

• Measurement of nasal IFN-I scores in a population of uninfected vs. infected older individuals (RESPIGERIA study, compliance with MR004 No. 24-5127).

  The secondary outcome will be measured at inclusion visit only

Study Arms (1)

Uninfected older adults

OTHER

Uninfected adult subjects aged 80 years and older

Other: Uninfected older adults

Interventions

Uninfected older adults OTHER

The procedures specifically carried out for the study during a single visit are as follows: * 1 nasopharyngeal swab for baseline measurement of nasal IFN score and testing for infection * Venous blood sampling on: * 1 x 2 mL Paxgene tube for baseline measurement of blood IFN score * 3 x 10 mL EDTA tubes for collection of PBMCs and plasma to quantify anti-IFN antibody levels and lymphocyte subtype concentrations. A total of 32 mL of venous blood will be collected for the study during a single visit. A biological collection will be created with the participant's specific consent, using leftover blood and nasopharyngeal swabs after testing.

Uninfected older adults

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 80 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Subject aged 80 or over
• Patient admitted to the Charpennes hospital day unit or outpatient clinic for follow-up OR accompanying patient who receive care at the Charpennes geriatric hospital OR subject recruited through the local press
• Weight greater than or equal to 45 kg
• Subject living in the Lyon metropolitan area

You may not qualify if:

• Subjects with symptoms of active infection (symptom questionnaire or temperature \> 37.5°C).
• Subjects with an autoimmune disease linked to a dysregulated interferon response.
• Subjects deprived of their liberty by judicial or administrative decision
• Subjects receiving psychiatric care
• Adults subject to legal protection measures (guardianship, curatorship)
• Subjects not affiliated with a social security scheme or beneficiaries of a similar scheme

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hospices Civils de Lyon: lead

Study Sites (1)

Hôpital des Charpennes (Hospices Civils de Lyon)

Villeurbanne, 69100, France

RECRUITING

Central Study Contacts

Antoine GARNIER-CRUSSARD

CONTACT

+33 4 72 43 20 50; antoine.garnier-crussard@chu-lyon.fr

Sophie TROUILLET-ASSANT

CONTACT

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Prospective, non-comparative and monocentric study, corresponding to researches involving human subjects (RIPH) category 2.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 2, 2025
• First Posted: November 20, 2025
• Study Start: December 2, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 3, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 3, 2026
• Last Updated: April 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

FR (1)