Ustekinumab (Anti-IL-12/23p40 Monoclonal Antibody) in Patients With Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Type 1 (LAD1) Who Have Inflammatory Pathology

Lymphocyte adhesion deficiency type 1 (LAD1) is an autosomal recessive disorder of leukocyte function. Decreased expression of the <=2 subunit of leukocyte integrins results in abnormal cell-cell and cell extracellular matrix adhesion. This disease is characterized by recurrent bacterial infections, impaired wound formation, and other aberrations of adhesion-dependent functions. The severe phenotype can be fatal, but patients with even moderate phenotypes are prone to infection and lose their teeth despite treatment.

Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against the p40 subunit of human interleukins IL-12 and IL-23. It is approved for treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis, and moderate-to-severe Crohn s disease. By binding the shared p40 subunit of IL-12 and IL-23, ustekinumab exerts clinical effects through interruption of the TH1 and TH17 cytokine pathways. Previous work at the NIH suggests that blockade of IL-17, which is highly expressed in the gingiva of people with LAD1, can reduce bacterial load and resolve inflammatory gingival disease. We have treated one patient with ustekinumab for 1 year; during this time, he had no serious infections and there was a dramatic resolution of his inflammatory lesions. Our goal is to explore the potential of ustekinumab as treatment for LAD1 inflammatory disease.

The objective of this open-label, proof-of-concept study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of ustekinumab in 10 patients with LAD1. Participants will receive 5 doses of ustekinumab via subcutaneous injection over the course of 1 year. They will be evaluated for adverse events, as well as the effect of the drug on inflammatory lesions and biomarker expression.

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• Age 12-65 years.
• Molecularly and cellularly confirmed LAD1 with inflammatory lesions.
• Willing to allow storage of biological samples for future research.
• Willing to allow genetic testing of blood samples.
• Able to provide informed consent.
• Participants who can get pregnant or impregnate a partner must agree to use adequate contraception when engaging in sexual activities that can result in pregnancy. Adequate contraception must be used consistently starting at screening and lasting through the final study visit. Appropriate forms of contraception include the following:

• Intrauterine device or equivalent.
• Hormonal contraceptive (eg, consistent, timely, and continuous use of contraceptive pill, patch, ring, implant, or injection) that has reached full efficacy before dosing.
• A double barrier method (eg, male/female condom, cap, or diaphragm plus spermicide).
• Be in a stable, long-term monogamous relationship, per assessment of the principal investigator (PI), with a partner who does not pose any potential pregnancy risk, eg, has undergone a vasectomy at least 6 months before the first dose of study agent or is of the same sex as the participant.
• Have had a hysterectomy and/or a bilateral tubal ligation or both ovaries removed.

Exclusion criteria

• History of malignancy (except for basal cell carcinoma) within the previous 5 years.
• Infected with HIV.
• Active uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection.
• Active or chronic viral hepatitis.
• Active or latent untreated tuberculosis.
• Received Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine within the last year.
• Received live attenuated vaccines within 15 weeks before the first dose.
• Allergy to any component of the ustekinumab formulation.
• Pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, contraindicates participation in this study.