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Activation of Brown Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis in Humans Using Formoterol Fumarate (GB10)

Activation of Brown Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis in Humans Using Formoterol Fumarate, a Beta-2 Adrenergic Receptor Agonist

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05553184
Acronym
GB10
Enrollment
12
Registered
2022-09-23
Start date
2022-07-05
Completion date
2023-05-29
Last updated
2023-11-28

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

Conditions

Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity

Keywords

Brown adipose tissue, formoterol fumarate, Thermogenesis

Brief summary

One emerging, highly modifiable homeostatic mechanism for energy expenditure in humans is brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis. BAT is currently considered a prime target for the treatment of obesity and Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Using acetate and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) , It has been demonstrated that BAT thermogenesis is inducible by chronic cold exposure. BAT activation through cold exposure is associated with improved glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity. A pharmaceutical approach, which seemed to be very promising to stimulate the activation of BAT, was the use of a selective beta 3-adrenergic receptor agonist, mirabegron. Nevertheless, in a later study, It has been demonstrated that human BAT thermogenesis is under the control of beta-2, not beta-3, adrenergic receptor. The most selective beta-2 adrenergic receptor agonist approved for clinical use in Canada is formoterol fumarate, given in inhalation for the treatment of asthma (Oxeze®). In summary, BAT contributes to cold-induced thermogenesis and is recruited by chronic cold exposure as well as by a growing number of food supplements and drugs. Intracellular triglyceride (TG) is the primary source of fuel for BAT thermogenesis under normal physiological conditions, as blocking intracellular TG lipolysis using nicotinic acid abolishes BAT thermogenesis. Beta-2 adrenergic stimulation is the pharmacological target to activate BAT thermogenesis in humans and may also lead to white adipose tissue lipolysis. Using a highly-selective beta-2 receptor agonist with and without administration of nicotinic acid would thus give the opportunity to quantify more precisely energy expenditure accounted by BAT thermogenesis and white adipose tissue metabolism in humans.

Detailed description

Each participant will undergo three metabolic sessions with PET imaging using \[11C\]-palmitate, \[11C\]-acetate and \[18F\]-FDG: 1. during a 3-h cold exposure (Study A, control condition) 2. after inhalation of Formoterol with oral nicotinic acid (Study B) 3. after inhalation of Formoterol only (Study C).

Interventions

DRUGFormoterol Fumarate 12 micrograms Inhalation Powder

At time 60 minutes, a total of 48 micrograms will be inhaled within 3 minutes: 4 inhalations of 12 micrograms of fumarate formoterol (Oxeze® Turbuhaler®).

DRUGNicotinic Acid 50 MG Oral Tablet

a total dose of 1050 MG will be ingested. From time 0 to 180 minutes, doses of 150 MG will be repeated every 30 minutes.

Participants will be fitted with a liquid-conditioned tube suit. The liquid-conditioned tube suit will be perfused with 18°C water using a temperature- and flow-controlled circulation bath from time 0 to 180 min.

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTPositron Emission Tomography (PET)

PET imaging using C11-palmitate (time 90), C11-acetate (time 120) and F18-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) (time 150)

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTIndirect calorimetry

will be repeated every hour, for 20 minutes, using Vmax29n.

Whole body scan

PROCEDUREBiopsy

After local anesthesia with 2% xylocaine without epinephrine, 100-200 mg of subcutaneous adipose tissue will be sampled by needle (14G) biopsy

PROCEDUREiv lines

for stable tracer perfusion and blood sampling

Surface electrodes will be used to measure skeletal muscle activity and shivering intensity

Sponsors

Université de Sherbrooke
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

The protocol will be carried out as a within-subject, randomized, cross-over study in which each subject will serve as his/her own control

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* BMI of 18 to 30 kg/m2.

Exclusion criteria

* Change in weight of more than 2 kg over the past 3 months or recent changes in lifestyle; * The presence of any chronic medical condition requiring any pharmacological treatment; * Previous intolerance or allergy to lactose, formoterol, nicotinic acid or local anesthetic agent; * Any previous cardiac arrhythmia, long QT syndrome or hypokalemia; * Chronic treatment with any medication other than contraceptives; * Acute use of any drug other that acetaminophen or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory without decongestant or other stimulants; * Smoking or consumption of more than 2 alcoholic beverages per day; * Having participated to a research study with exposure to radiation in the last two years before the start of the study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Brown Adipose Tissue thermogenesis (formoterol induced, cold-induced and effect of nicotinic acid)measured 60 minutes before and 90 minutes after cold exposure (A) and 30 minutes after inhalation of Fumarate Formoterol (B and C)determined using \[11C\]-acetate PET

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Brown Adipose Tissue nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) metabolism (uptake, oxidation, esterification and release rates)measured 120 minutes after the start of acute cold exposure (A), and 60 minutes after inhalation of Fumarate Formoterol (B and C)determined using \[11C\]-palmitate PET method
Change in systemic plasma NEFA turnover.measured at baseline and every 60 minutes after the start of acute cold exposure (A) and every 60 minutes after inhalation of fumarate formoterol (B and C), for 4 hoursDetermined using continuous infusion of labelled palmitate from time -60 to 180.
Change in systemic plasma glycerol turnover.measured at baseline and every hour after the start of acute cold exposure (A) and every hour after inhalation of fumarate formoterol (B and C), for 4 hours.Determined using continuous infusion of \[1,1,2,3,3-D2\]-glycerol from time -60 to 180 .
Change in systemic plasma glucose turnover.measured at baseline and every hour after the start of acute cold exposure (A) and every hour after inhalation of fumarate formoterol (B and C), for 5.50 hoursDetermined using continuous infusion of \[6,6 D2\]-glucose from time -150 to 180 .
Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) glucose uptakemeasured 150 minutes after the start of acute cold exposure (A), and 90 minutes after inhalation of Fumarate Formoterol (B and C)determined using \[18F\]-FDG dynamic PET acquisition
Change in whole-body energy expendituremeasured at baseline and every hour after the start of acute cold exposure (A) and every hour after inhalation of fumarate formoterol (B and C), for 4 hoursDetermined using indirect calorimetry
Muscle shivering activitymeasured at baseline and every hour after the start of acute cold exposure (A) and every hour after inhalation of fumarate formoterol (B and C), for 4 hoursDetermined using the surface electromyogram (EMG)
Change in insulin sensitivitymeasured at baseline and every 60 minutes after the start of acute cold exposure (A) and every 60 minutes after inhalation of fumarate formoterol (B and C), for 4 hours.Determined by measuring circulating glucose, NEFA, insulin and C-peptide
Protein expression of subcutaneous abdominal white adipose tissuemeasured at baseline and 180 minutes after the start of the cold exposure (study A) and 120 minutes after inhalation of fumarate formoterol (study B and C)Using biopsy
BAT triglyceride contentmeasured 180 minutes after the start of cold exposure (A) and 90 minutes after inhalation of fumarate formoterol (B and C)Determined using the CT radio-density method

Countries

Canada

Outcome results

None listed

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