eukocyte dynamics in ageing: in vivo labelling of dividing leukocytes using deuterated water

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Completed

Sex: Not specified

Target Recruitment: 15

Inclusion Criteria

5 healthy young individuals; 20-25 years of age
10 healthy older individuals; at least 60 years of age

Exclusion Criteria

(i) Infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), or hepatitis C virus (HCV);
(ii) Other severe infections, e.g. malaria, infectious mononucleosis, a sexually transmitted disease (STD);
(iii) Hayfever or allergy;
(iv) Asthma or COPD;
(v) Diabetes;
(vi) Auto-immune disease, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis;
(vii) Heart problems, or a history of heart problems;
(viii) Kidney problemns, or a history of kidney problems;
(ix) Chest pain or shortage of breath, in rest or during exercise;
(x) Body weight of less than 50 kg;
(xi) Use of medication, with the exception of (a) analgesics when taken less frequent than weekly (paracetamol, ibuprofen, aspirin) (b) contraceptives;
(xii) History of cancer;
(xiii) Pregnancy or parent's wish in the coming year;
(xiv) Excessive alcohol consumption;
(xv) Drug use;
(xvi) Changing and unsafe sexual contacts;
(xvii) Sexual contact with an individual infected with HIV or another STD within the last 12 months;
(xviii) Extreme sensitivity to car-sickness and/or sea-sickness

Study & Design

Study Type: Observational invasive

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>The main parameter of the study is the amount of deuterium (label) that the<br /><br>different leukocyte populations have incorporated in their DNA by cell division<br /><br>at a given time. For this purpose blood withdrawals are done both in the period<br /><br>during which participants drink 2H2O (uplabelling phase) and in the period<br /><br>after stopping with 2H2O intake (downlabelling phase). Data obtained during<br /><br>uplabelling and downlabelling phases can be interpreted by mathematical models<br /><br>that describe the dynamics of leukocyte populations. </p><br>

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>With the obtained materials several in vitro immunological test will be<br /><br>performed, including determination of blood- and plasma levels and analysis of<br /><br>cell phenotypes and cell numbers within subpopulations.</p><br>