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Effect of Liraglutide (Victoza) on Inflammation in Human Adipose Tissue and Blood

Effect of Liraglutide on Macrophage Polarization in Human Adipose Tissue and Peripheral Blood

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02650206
Enrollment
56
Registered
2016-01-08
Start date
2015-01-31
Completion date
2019-09-27
Last updated
2020-06-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Diabetes Mellitus, Adult-Onset, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Diabetes Mellitus, Type II, Inflammation

Keywords

diabetes, macrophage, inflammation, adipose tissue, weight loss, liraglutide

Brief summary

The objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that liraglutide (commonly known as Victoza) can promote an anti-inflammatory macrophage phenotype in human adipose tissue and blood, thereby reducing localized and systemic inflammation which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease and may contribute to hyperglycemia. This will be done after 4 weeks of treatment during which weight will remain stable, and again after 12 weeks, during which liraglutide-related weight loss occurs.

Detailed description

It has now been established that the high risk of cardiovascular disease that is associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes is related to the systemic inflammation that underlies these conditions. Previous studies have shown that there are numerous types of immune cells in human adipose tissue, some of these are the macrophages. These cells can exist in two states: M2, which can inhibit classical inflammatory response, and M1 which secrete proinflammatory cytokines. The investigators have data to suggest that the role of inflammatory cells in adipose tissue is a strong contributor to systemic inflammation. A recent study showed that a GLP-1 analog (liraglutide, also known as Victoza) may help decrease inflammation via promoting M2 differentiation of macrophages. The purpose of this study is to quantify macrophage phenotype (M1 vs M2) in subcutaneous adipose tissue in moderately-obese diet controlled diabetics at baseline, after four weeks of weight-maintenance using liraglutide, and after 12 weeks of liraglutide treatment as compared to placebo. Aim 1: Quantify M1 and M2 (surface and intracellular markers) polarization via flow cytometry in subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells at baseline and after 4 weeks administration of liraglutide versus placebo to weight-stable, obese, type 2 diabetic patients. Weight loss will be prevented in order to ascertain the effect of liraglutide alone. Aim 2: Quantify M1 and M2 (surface and intracellular markers) polarization via flow cytometry in subcutaneous adipose tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells after 12 weeks of liraglutide treatment, during which dietary restrictions are lifted and spontaneous weight loss, as would occur in the clinical setting, is allowed. To eliminate confounding by weight loss, a placebo-treated group will undergo matched dietary weight loss for comparison to the liraglutide group to ascertain whether changes in macrophage polarization at 12 weeks are greater in the liraglutide group. Aim 3: Quantify macrophage-mediated localized and systemic inflammation by measuring M1/M2-related inflammatory cytokines in adipose tissue and peripheral blood after 4 and 12 weeks administration of liraglutide versus placebo to obese, type 2 diabetic patients.

Interventions

DRUGVictoza (liraglutide) with dietician monitoring

Victoza (liraglutide), an FDA-approved medication, is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subjects with this intervention will be followed by the MD and dietician throughout the study to monitor progress through 4 week period of weight maintenance and 8 week period of weight loss.

OTHERPlacebo with dietician monitoring

Subjects will not receive the study drug, but will be followed by the MD and dietician throughout the study to monitor progress through 4 week period of weight maintenance and 8 week period of weight loss.

Sponsors

Stanford University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to 69 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* BMI between 25 and 42 kg/m2 * Diet-controlled diabetics, or diabetics on Metformin that have permission from Primacy Care Physician to wash-out of the drug for 6 weeks prior to the study and for the duration of the study * HbA1C between 6.0 - 7.9 (those on Metformin must have a HbA1c level below 7.5 prior to wash-out period) * Fasting Blood Glucose \< 150 mg/dl * Women must be post-menopausal or surgically sterile within age range * Subjects must live in vicinity of Stanford University

Exclusion criteria

* Prior Bariatric surgery * Personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer * MEN2 Syndrome * Thyroid Nodules (not evaluated by PCP) * Pancreatitis (acute or chronic) * Gallstones * Fasting plasma triglycerides \> 400 mg/dl * Cardiovascular disease * Major organ disease * Unstable hypertension (BP \>160/100 mm Hg) * Heavy alcohol use * Self-reported weight change of \>2kg over past 6 weeks * Medication known to affect blood glucose, insulin sensitivity, or inflammation * NSAIDs (must cease use 4 weeks prior to study enrollment) * Previous use of liraglutide, Januvia, Byetta, or Lira.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Macrophage polarization: % M2 macrophages in adipose tissue and peripheral blood according to positivity for cell surface markers (measured by flow cytometry).30 months

Secondary

MeasureTime frame
Inflammation, localized: Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines will be measured (IL6, IL-8, TNF-α, MCP-1, cell surface markers, and adiponectin) by rtPCR in adipose tissue and blood macrophages30 months
Inflammation, systemic: Plasma pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines: IL-6, hsCRP, cell surface markers, and adiponectin will be measured in plasma.30 months
Macrophage polarization: M1 to M2 ratio in adipose tissue and peripheral blood according to cell surface markers (measured by flow cytometry)30 months

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026