RSPO3/SDC-1 Pathway Dysfunction in Alveolar Repair After ARDS in Older Adults

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS); Age-related Impaired Alveolar Epithelial Repair

Treatments: Procedure: RSPO3/SDC-1 pathway profiling assay; Procedure: Blood and Saliva

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07129330

XHEC-C-2025-167-1

Details and patient eligibility

About

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a serious lung condition in which fluid builds up in the air sacs, making it hard to breathe and often requiring intensive care. Older adults fare worse because their lung-lining cells lose the ability to heal properly after injury This study will explore two key molecules-RSPO3 and Syndecan-1 (SDC-1)-that normally help alveolar (air-sac) cells regenerate. We will collect small blood samples from ARDS patients and, when patients undergo elective lung surgery, tiny pieces of healthy lung tissue. In the lab, we will also grow three-dimensional "lung organoids" from these samples to see how boosting or blocking RSPO3/SDC-1 affects cell repair

Our goals are to:

Measure RSPO3/SDC-1 activity alongside inflammatory markers (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α) to understand their roles in age-related repair failure.

Build an integrated platform for early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and treatment evaluation in older ARDS patients.

Identify molecular targets that could lead to new therapies, helping older adults recover lung function more effectively.

Enrollment: 1,000 estimated patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Clinical diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) according to the Berlin Definition Age ≥ 65 years at enrollment First diagnosis of ARDS made within 24 hours prior to study entry Receiving either spontaneous (non-invasive) breathing support or invasive mechanical ventilation

Exclusion criteria

Coexisting severe cardiac, hepatic or renal failure (NYHA Class III-IV) Active pulmonary infection (e.g. pneumonia or lung abscess) Significant coagulation disorders Receipt of any cytokine-based therapy within the past 3 months Participation in another interventional clinical study within the past 3 months

Trial design

1,000 participants in 4 patient groups

ARDS

Treatment:

Procedure: Blood and Saliva

NON_ARDS

Treatment:

Procedure: Blood and Saliva

AGED

Treatment:

Procedure: RSPO3/SDC-1 pathway profiling assay

YOUNG

Treatment:

Procedure: RSPO3/SDC-1 pathway profiling assay