TNFSF11 Inhibition and Fertility: a Prospective Study

NCT02422108 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: PHASE2 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 12

Last updated 2019-03-27

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) system is considered important for bone homeostasis and comprises three important factors. RANKL exist in three isoforms but the predominant function is mediated by the transmembrane ligand that binds to a specific receptor (receptor activator of NF-KB (RANK)) on a neighbour cell that subsequently activates NFKB and regulates cell cycle OPG is an endogenous secreted protein that binds RANKL and inhibits its signalling.

Thus, the RANK/RANKL system is vital for activation of the bone resorbing cells (osteoclasts). In bone the bone synthesizing cells (osteoblasts) express RANKL that signals to RANK on the immature osteoclasts. This induces proliferation and activation of the cells they start to proliferate and resorp bone. OPG is produced by somatic cells in the bone and this production is regulated by sex hormones, TGF-B and various other substances. Today a human made recombinant antibody against RANKL, Denosumab is used to treat osteoporosis as it inhibits RANKL signalling and thus causes less bone resorption in humans.

RANKL, RANK and OPG are expressed in the testis and this pathway appears to be a novel regulator of germ cell proliferation. Decreased semen quality is a major factor of male infertility. Semen quality is a measure of the ability of the sperm to accomplish fertilization. Evaluation of male fertility potential is today basically conducted through semen analysis. There is no treatment for men with no sperm in the ejaculate and there exist no drug that can increase sperm counts.Therefore, drugs that can lower RANKL expression/activity for instance an antibody against RANKL such as Denosumab may be used for this new indication: A new treatment option of infertile men with impaired semen quality.

Conditions

Interventions

DRUG

Denosumab

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Martin Blomberg Jensen

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Martin M Blomberg Jensen, MD, DMSc · Rigshospitalet, Denmark

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
MALE
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2015-05-31
Primary Completion
2017-02-28
Completion
2019-01-31

Countries

  • Denmark

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02422108 on ClinicalTrials.gov