Membranous NephropathyTRANSCRIPTNCT07811557
Single-cell RNA Sequencing (scRNA-seq) to Investigate the Mechanisms Underlying the Induction of Regulatory T Cells in Patients With Extramembranous Glomerulonephritis Treated With Rituximab
A study testing Peripheral blood immune-cell profiling by single-cell RNA sequencing and in vitro pathway modulation assays in people with Membranous Nephropathy and Membranous Nephropathy - PLA2R Induced, run by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice at 1 site in France.
Trial summary
Membranous nephropathy is a rare autoimmune kidney disease in which autoantibodies, most commonly anti-PLA2R1 antibodies, target podocyte antigens and may cause nephrotic syndrome. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Membranous Nephropathy, Membranous Nephropathy - PLA2R Induced, Nephrotic Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Peripheral blood immune-cell profiling by single-cell RNA sequencing and in vitro pathway modulation assays
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 12 participants
- Where
- 1 siteFrance
- Study dates
- 31 Oct 2026to 31 Oct 2029
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Signed informed consent.
- Anti-PLA2R1-positive membranous nephropathy.
- Active nephrotic syndrome, defined as urinary protein/creatinine ratio >3.5 g/g and serum albumin <30 g/L.
- Indication for rituximab treatment as part of routine care.
- Estimated glomerular filtration rate calculated using the CKD-EPI equation >30 mL/min/1.73 m2.
Who cannot join
- Lack of affiliation to the French social security system.
- Vulnerable person, including minors, adults under guardianship or curatorship, pregnant women, persons deprived of liberty, or persons who do not master the French language.
- Immunosuppressive treatment received within the previous 6 months.
- Breastfeeding.
- Absence of effective contraception, when applicable.
- Premature discontinuation before administration of both rituximab infusions.
- Voluntary withdrawal of informed consent or objection to the use of study data or biological samples.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
France1 site
CHU de NICE
Nice, 06200
Céline FERNANDEZ, +33 4 92 03 88 28, fernandez.c3@chu-nice.fr
About this study
Official title: A Study Using Single-cell RNA Sequencing (scRNA-seq) to Investigate the Mechanisms Underlying the Induction of Regulatory T Cells in Patients With Extramembranous Glomerulonephritis Treated With Rituximab
Membranous nephropathy is a rare autoimmune kidney disease in which autoantibodies, most commonly anti-PLA2R1 antibodies, target podocyte antigens and may cause nephrotic syndrome. Rituximab is used in routine care to deplete B cells and reduce pathogenic autoantibodies, but its effects are not limited to B-cell depletion. Previous work suggests that rituximab may also promote regulatory T-cell (Treg) responses, and higher Treg levels after treatment have been associated with clinical remission.
TRANSCRIPT is a prospective, single-center, pilot mechanistic study in 12 adult patients with active anti-PLA2R1-positive membranous nephropathy who have an indication for rituximab as part of routine care. Participants will receive rituximab according to usual clinical practice (1 g on Day 0 and 1 g on Day 15). Additional blood samples will be collected at Day 0 and Month 6 to isolate peripheral immune cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing will be used to identify transcriptional changes, signaling pathways, and intercellular communication networks associated with rituximab-induced Treg induction. In vitro assays will then test modulators of the candidate pathways identified by sequencing.
The study hypothesis is that rituximab modulates immune-cell signaling and communication pathways that contribute to the induction of regulatory T cells in patients with membranous nephropathy.
- Being tested
- Peripheral blood immune-cell profiling by single-cell RNA sequencing and in vitro pathway modulation assays
- Medical subject headings
- Glomerulonephritis, Membranous, Nephrotic Syndrome
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Peripheral blood immune-cell profiling by single-cell RNA sequencing and in vitro pathway modulation assaysOther
Participants with active anti-PLA2R1-positive membranous nephropathy and a routine-care indication for rituximab will undergo two additional research blood collections: one at Day 0 before or on the day of the first rituximab infusion, and one at Month 6. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells will be isolated, cryopreserved, and analyzed by single-cell RNA sequencing. Candidate signaling pathways associated with regulatory T-cell induction will be assessed in vitro using pathway activators or inhibitors and flow cytometry-based Treg measurement. Rituximab itself is administered as part of usual care at 1 g on Day 0 and 1 g on Day 15, not as an investigational treatment assigned by the study.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Rituximab-treated anti-PLA2R1-positive membranous nephropathy patients | Other | Not described Receives: Other: Peripheral blood immune-cell profiling by single-cell RNA sequencing and in vitro pathway modulation assays |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in regulatory T-cell induction and rituximab-modulated immune signaling pathways from Day 0 to Month 6
Regulatory T-cell induction will be assessed by single-cell RNA sequencing of peripheral immune cells collected from 12 rituximab-treated participants at Day 0 and Month 6. The analysis will identify differentially expressed genes and their fold changes within immune-cell subpopulations, including Treg cells and partner immune-cell populations. It will also identify the main signaling and cell-cell communication pathways that are deregulated or modulated between Day 0 and Month 6.
Measured: Day 0 to Month 6
Secondary outcomes (1)
In vitro induction of regulatory T cells by modulators of rituximab-associated signaling pathways
Candidate pathways identified by single-cell RNA sequencing will be tested in vitro using peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected at Day 0. Cells will be exposed to pathway activators or inhibitors, and the capacity to induce regulatory T cells will be measured by flow cytometry using markers including CD45, CD3, CD4, CD25 and Foxp3.
Measured: After completion of sequencing analyses; in vitro exposure for approximately 24 hours
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Sep 2026
- Study start31 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion31 Oct 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Oct 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Membranous NephropathyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de NiceThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 12 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07811557
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 25-AOI-01
- Other IDs
- IDRCB 2025-A02468-41
- Acronym
- TRANSCRIPT
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 10 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Not planned yet
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Study Using Single-cell RNA Sequencing (scRNA-seq) to Investigate the Mechanisms Underlying the Induction of Regulatory T Cells in Patients With Extramembranous Glomerulonephritis Treated With Rituximab
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07811557
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TRANSCRIPT / 25-AOI-01
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 12 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de NiceUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 31 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 31 Oct 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Oct 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 10 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Membranous nephropathy is a rare autoimmune kidney disease in which autoantibodies, most commonly anti-PLA2R1 antibodies, target podocyte antigens and may cause nephrotic syndrome. Rituximab is used in routine care to deplete B cells and reduce pathogenic autoantibodies, but its effects are not limited to B-cell depletion. Previous work suggests that rituximab may also promote regulatory T-cell (Treg) responses, and higher Treg levels after treatment have been associated with clinical remission.
TRANSCRIPT is a prospective, single-center, pilot mechanistic study in 12 adult patients with active anti-PLA2R1-positive membranous nephropathy who have an indication for rituximab as part of routine care. Participants will receive rituximab according to usual clinical practice (1 g on Day 0 and 1 g on Day 15). Additional blood samples will be collected at Day 0 and Month 6 to isolate peripheral immune cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing will be used to identify transcriptional changes, signaling pathways, and intercellular communication networks associated with rituximab-induced Treg induction. In vitro assays will then test modulators of the candidate pathways identified by sequencing.
The study hypothesis is that rituximab modulates immune-cell signaling and communication pathways that contribute to the induction of regulatory T cells in patients with membranous nephropathy.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Rituximab-treated anti-PLA2R1-positive membranous nephropathy patients | Other | Other: Peripheral blood immune-cell profiling by single-cell RNA sequencing and in vitro pathway modulation assays |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Signed informed consent.
- Anti-PLA2R1-positive membranous nephropathy.
- Active nephrotic syndrome, defined as urinary protein/creatinine ratio >3.5 g/g and serum albumin <30 g/L.
- Indication for rituximab treatment as part of routine care.
- Estimated glomerular filtration rate calculated using the CKD-EPI equation >30 mL/min/1.73 m2.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Lack of affiliation to the French social security system.
- Vulnerable person, including minors, adults under guardianship or curatorship, pregnant women, persons deprived of liberty, or persons who do not master the French language.
- Immunosuppressive treatment received within the previous 6 months.
- Breastfeeding.
- Absence of effective contraception, when applicable.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Peripheral blood immune-cell profiling by single-cell RNA sequencing and in vitro pathway modulation assaysParticipants with active anti-PLA2R1-positive membranous nephropathy and a routine-care indication for rituximab will undergo two additional research blood collections: one at Day 0 before or on the day of the first rituximab infusion, and one at Month 6. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells will be isolated, cryopreserved, and analyzed by single-cell RNA sequencing. Candidate signaling pathways associated with regulatory T-cell induction will be assessed in vitro using pathway activators or inhibitors and flow cytometry-based Treg measurement. Rituximab itself is administered as part of usual care at 1 g on Day 0 and 1 g on Day 15, not as an investigational treatment assigned by the study. | Other | Rituximab-treated anti-PLA2R1-positive membranous nephropathy patients |
Primary outcome
Change in regulatory T-cell induction and rituximab-modulated immune signaling pathways from Day 0 to Month 6
Time frame: Day 0 to Month 6
Regulatory T-cell induction will be assessed by single-cell RNA sequencing of peripheral immune cells collected from 12 rituximab-treated participants at Day 0 and Month 6. The analysis will identify differentially expressed genes and their fold changes within immune-cell subpopulations, including Treg cells and partner immune-cell populations. It will also identify the main signaling and cell-cell communication pathways that are deregulated or modulated between Day 0 and Month 6.
1 secondary outcome
In vitro induction of regulatory T cells by modulators of rituximab-associated signaling pathways
Time frame: After completion of sequencing analyses; in vitro exposure for approximately 24 hours
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Not planned yet
Related trials for Membranous Nephropathy
Not yet recruiting
MYTP01 for Immune-Mediated Diseases
IgA Nephropathy, Kidney Transplant Recipients
RecruitingPhase 2
An Open-Label Phase 2 Study of N-Acetyl-D-Mannosamine (ManNAc) in Subjects With Podocyte Diseases
Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, Minimal Change Disease
RecruitingPhase 2/3
Evaluation of Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Povetacicept in Participants With Primary Membranous Nephropathy (pMN)
Primary Membranous Nephropathy
RecruitingPhase 2
Rituximab Plus Cyclosporine in Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy
Nephrotic Syndrome, Proteinuria
Not yet recruitingObservational study
MENA/Levant Epidemiological, Registry of Immunological & Clinical Traits (MERIT)
Antiphospholipid (aPL)-Positive, Rheumatic Arthritis
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Peripheral blood immune-cell profiling by single-cell RNA sequencing and in vitro pathway modulation assays in people with Membranous Nephropathy and Membranous Nephropathy - PLA2R Induced, run by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice at 1 site in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Barbara SEITZ-POLSKI, MD, PhD, Professor (+33 4 92 03 40 11, drc@chu-nice.fr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in regulatory T-cell induction and rituximab-modulated immune signaling pathways from Day 0 to Month 6 (time frame: Day 0 to Month 6). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Sep 2026.