Aging, Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists, HIV, Sarcopenia
Conditions
Brief summary
This study is designed to evaluate specific factors in mitochondria that may precipitate premature aging and physical weakness in HIV patients. Angiotensin receptors 1 and 2 (AT1R and AT2R) are found in virtually every cell type. This study will evaluate how the relationships among these receptors in immune and skeletal muscle cells change with HIV, and how these changes might trigger mitochondrial dysfunction, declines in muscle strength, and cellular decline in people living with HIV.
Detailed description
HIV related premature cellular aging and declines in mitochondrial function are closely linked. Dysfunctional mitochondria generate higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and provide less ATP supply cellular energy. Impaired turnover of damaged mitochondria leads to gradual but progressive decline in energy metabolism, increases in muscle fibrosis and clinically apparent weakness. The Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) is a central hormonal system that contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction and impacts both lifespan and function across multiple organ systems. Deletion of the angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) results in a 25-30% extension of lifespan in mouse models, partly through increasing mitochondrial numbers. Blocking of AT1R reduces a number of age-related morbidities in mice, and in human studies. A plethora of data implicates RAS modulation in marked effects on fitness, frailty and beneficial responses to exercise in older adults. Despite this, there are virtually no data examining RAS biology in HIV+ vs. age-matched HIVsubjects, no data of RAS in relation to key HIV-specific variables (duration of HIV, treatment history, immune markers), and no data examining the effects of blocking AT1R on physical function in HIV infected subjects. In this study, we will examine the RAS and its contribution to premature mitochondrial failure in HIV patients. We will begin to fill this void by enrolling 40 HIV+ subjects in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled pilot study of treatment with AT1R blocker to determine the feasibility of a larger trial, estimate effect size, assess the correlation of angiotensin receptor (AR) expression in peripheral blood cells and muscle cells, and the association of AR expression with physical function measures and immunity.
Interventions
DRUGvalsartan
Valsartan will be given in increasing doses (from 40 mg to 80 mg) to those in the valsartan arm.
OTHERPlacebo
Sponsors
Johns Hopkins University
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* able to provide informed consent * able to attend an extended (\ 4 hour) Clinical Research Visit * documented HIV seropositivity * on a stable anti-retroviral therapy (ART) regimen for at least 12 months * HIV plasma viral load \< 50 copies/ml for at least 6 months * Systolic blood pressure \>110
Exclusion criteria
* creatinine \> 1.5 ULN (or creatinine clearance \< 60 ml/min) * anti-hypertensive therapy with ACE-I or AT1R-blockers * inability to perform functional measures (e.g. non-ambulatory without assistance, requires a prosthesis) * recent (within 30 days) acute illness requiring medical therapy or hospitalization * immunosuppressive agents (e.g. \> 20 mg/d x 2 or more weeks of prednisone or equivalent, chemotherapy) in the last 6 months * cancer requiring treatment w/in 3 yrs (except for non-melanoma skin cancer) * blood thinning medications such as Coumadin or Plavix or a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia that could cause complications during muscle biopsies * pregnancy (will provide urine test for females of child bearing potential) * regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or other immune modulating agents.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change From Baseline in 400m Walk | 3, 6, and 9 months post-enrollment | Measured by time to finish 400 meter walk |
| Change From Baseline in Grip Strength | 3, 6, and 9 months post-enrollment | Measured by dynamometer measurement of grip strength |
| Change From Baseline in Quantity of AT1R and AT2R on Monocytes | 3, 6, and 9 months post-enrollment | Measured by using qPCR and western blot. (Units are arbitrary units) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change From Baseline in Frailty Status | 3, 6, and 9 months post-enrollment | Evaluated by measurements of grip strength, walking speed and questionnaires |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Placebo Control 20 HIV-infected participants will be randomized into a blinded arm where they will receive 24 weeks of placebo therapy. During this time, they will undergo the same study procedures as the intervention arm.
Placebo | 0 |
| Valsartan 20 HIV-infected participants will be randomized into a blinded arm where they receive 24 weeks of valsartan therapy. For those subjects randomized to the valsartan group, they will receive valsartan 40 mg by mouth daily for 2 weeks, then increase to 80 mg by mouth daily for the remaining 22 weeks. During this time, they will undergo the same study procedures as the placebo arm.
valsartan: Valsartan will be given in increasing doses (from 40 mg to 80 mg) to those in the valsartan arm. | 1 |
| Total | 1 |
Withdrawals & dropouts
| Period | Reason | FG000 | FG001 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Study | Lost to Follow-up | 0 | 1 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Valsartan | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 1 Participants | 1 Participants |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Hispanic or Latino | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Not Hispanic or Latino | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported | 1 Participants | 1 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Asian | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported | 1 Participants | 1 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) White | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Region of Enrollment United States | 1 participants | 1 participants |
| Sex/Gender, Customized Female | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Sex/Gender, Customized Male | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Sex/Gender, Customized Prefers not to identify | 1 Participants | 1 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 0 | 0 / 1 |
Outcome results
Primary
Change From Baseline in 400m Walk
Measured by time to finish 400 meter walk
Time frame: 3, 6, and 9 months post-enrollment
Population: Participant did not complete visits, data not collected.
Primary
Change From Baseline in Grip Strength
Measured by dynamometer measurement of grip strength
Time frame: 3, 6, and 9 months post-enrollment
Population: Participant did not complete visits, data not collected.
Primary
Change From Baseline in Quantity of AT1R and AT2R on Monocytes
Measured by using qPCR and western blot. (Units are arbitrary units)
Time frame: 3, 6, and 9 months post-enrollment
Population: Participant did not complete visits, data not collected.
Secondary
Change From Baseline in Frailty Status
Evaluated by measurements of grip strength, walking speed and questionnaires
Time frame: 3, 6, and 9 months post-enrollment
Population: Participant did not complete visits, data not collected.