Skip to content

Adipocyte-Derived Extracellular Vesicles, Weight Loss, and Endothelial Function

Adipocyte-Derived Extracellular Vesicles; Novel Biomarker and Mediator of Obesity-Related Endothelial Dysfunction

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06776081
Enrollment
84
Registered
2025-01-15
Start date
2024-07-01
Completion date
2027-06-30
Last updated
2026-04-28

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

Conditions

Obesity, Weight Loss

Keywords

Obesity, Weight Loss

Brief summary

Changes in adipose tissue biology are now recognized as a key factor underlying the increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disease with obesity. Clinical interest in adipocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (Ad-EVs) has intensified due to their potential as circulating biomarkers of adipose tissue health and systemic messengers, regulators and mediators of cardiometabolic health and disease with obesity. The investigators hypothesize that elevated Ad-EVs in adults with obesity will be negatively associated with endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Furthermore, the investigators hypothesize that in adults with obesity, intentional weight loss-induced reduction in circulating Ad-EVs is associated with greater endothelium-dependent vasodilation.

Interventions

Adults with obesity participating in the 12-week hypocaloric diet-induced weight loss intervention will be individually counseled by the Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) bionutritionist to consume a hypocaloric diet consistent with current dietary recommendations for weight loss until a 6-10% weight loss is achieved.

Sponsors

University of Colorado, Boulder
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Age ≥40 years * BMI \<25 kg/m2 and BMI \>25 kg/m2 for Phase 1 and BMI \>25 kg/m2 for Phase 2. Rationale for defining obesity as BMI \>25 kg/m2

Exclusion criteria

* Current smoker * Chronic overt medical condition (e.g., evidence of coronary artery disease on resting ECG, any history of myocardial infarction or stroke, or cancer, diabetes based on fasting blood glucose concentration) * Alcohol abuse or dependence defined as more than 14 standard drinks/week and no more than 4 standard drinks/day for men and 7 standard drinks/week and 3 standard drinks/day for women (a standard drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wines, 1 ½ ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits) reported during the medical history/physical exam * Stage III hypertension (systolic blood pressure \>160 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure \>100 mmHg) * Regular vigorous aerobic/endurance exercise (\>3 bouts/week, \>30 minutes/bout at a workload \>6 METS) * Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding * History of anaphylaxis to betadine, lidocaine, iodine * Raynaud's disease * History of clotting disorders * Anyone taking blood thinners and clotting medications * Anyone taking statin medication * Planned pregnancy in coming 4-6 months

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Phase 1: Circulating adipocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (Ad-EVs)Circulating Ad-EVs will measured during Phase 1 visit 2 which is ~2 weeks from their respective start date.Circulating Ad-EVs will be determined from a peripheral blood sample in normal weight and obese adults. Ad-EVs will be determined using flow cytometry. The samples will be incubated with perilipin A. Ad-EVs will be defined as perilipin A positive cells ranging in size 0.2-0.8 um.
Phase 2: Circulating adipocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (Ad-EVs)Circulating Ad-EVs will be measured during Phase 2 visit 15 which is ~17 weeks from their respective start date.Circulating Ad-EVs will be determined from a peripheral blood sample following the obese participants 12-week weight loss intervention.
Phase 1: Forearm Blood Flow (FBF) Response to Acetylcholine (ACh)FBF response to ACh will be measured during Phase 1 and the participant's visit 2 which is ~ 2 weeks from their respective start date.FBF is measured via strain-gauge venous occlusion plethysmography in response to saline for 5 minutes and then to ACh (4.0, 8.0 and 16.0 ug/100 mL tissue/min; the doses of ACh infused into the brachial artery) for 5 minutes at each dose. Flows during the last minute of saline and each drug dose are measured and the mean value reported.
Phase 2: Forearm Blood Flow (FBF) Response to Acetylcholine (ACh)FBF response to ACh will be measured during Phase 2 and the participant's visit 15 which is ~17 weeks from their respective start date.FBF is measured via strain-gauge venous occlusion plethysmography in response to saline for 5 minutes and then to ACh (4.0, 8.0 and 16.0 ug/100 mL tissue/min; the doses of ACh infused into the brachial artery) for 5 minutes at each dose. Flows during the last minute of saline and each drug dose are measured and the mean value reported.
Phase 1: Forearm Blood Flow (FBF) Response to Sodium Nitroprusside (NTP)FBF response to NTP will be measured during Phase 1 and the participant's visit 2 which is ~ 2 weeks from their respective start date.FBF is measured via strain-gauge venous occlusion plethysmography in response to saline for 5 minutes and then to NTP (1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 ug/100 mL tissue/min; the doses of NTP infused into the brachial artery) for 5 minutes at each dose. Flows during the last minute of saline and each drug dose are measured and the mean value reported.
Phase 2: Forearm Blood Flow (FBF) Response to Sodium Nitroprusside (NTP)FBF response to NTP will be measured during Phase 2 and the participant's visit 15 which is ~17 weeks from their respective start date.FBF is measured via strain-gauge venous occlusion plethysmography in response to saline for 5 minutes and then to NTP (1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 ug/100 mL tissue/min; the doses of NTP infused into the brachial artery) for 5 minutes at each dose. Flows during the last minute of saline and each drug dose are measured and the mean value reported.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTJared Greiner, MS
greinerj@colorado.edu303-735-3605
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORChristopher DeSouza, PhD

University of Colorado, Boulder

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 29, 2026