Adaptive Immune Response in Visceral and Subcutaneous Fat: Role in Human Insulin Resistance

• Conditions: Insulin Sensitivity; Insulin Resistance; Obesity; Inflammation

• Registration Number: NCT04708535
• Lead Sponsor: Stanford University

Brief Summary

The proposed study is designed to test the hypothesis that in human obesity, the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory T cells in fat tissue is in fact related to macrophage phenotype and insulin resistance, and how it is related.

This study is needed to confirm whether conclusions based on studies of visceral adipose tissue in mice are indeed applicable to humans.

We also want to determine the relationship between insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia and ability to lose weight in obese individuals.

Detailed Description

Previous studies have found convincing evidence of the relationship between insulin resistance, T cell profiles, macrophage profiles and inflammation of the fat cells. This study will add human subjects to that body of evidence.

Overview Aim 1: Test the hypothesis that the balance of anti- inflammatory vs proinflammatory T cells is protective for systemic insulin resistance. T cell profiles in subcutaneous and visceral tissue and blood will be compared in IR vs IS obese humans at baseline and potentially after 12 months following weight loss. Tcell profile will be evaluated for relationships with IR and inflammation, with adjustment for total body fat. Secondarily, they will be evaluated for relationship to adipose cell size.

Overview Aim 2: Test the hypothesis that macrophage phenotype in adipose tissue is associated with T cell profile and IR. Frequency of macrophage phenotypes (M1 vs M2) will be analyzed in IR vs IS obese humans at baseline and potentially after 12 months following weight loss.

Overview Aim 3: Testing the hypothesis insulin resistance is associated with T cell receptor phenotypes in subcutaneous and visceral tissue. IR and IS subjects will be evaluated at baseline by sequencing of expressed TCRs in paired SAT, VAT, and blood. We will determine whether TCR phenotypes are shared between different IR individuals.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-08-01
• Study First Submitted: 2018-07-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-01-11
• Study First Posted: 2021-01-14
• Status Verified: 2024-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-12-02
• Last Update Posted: 2024-12-04
• Primary Completion: 2025-08
• Study Completion: 2025-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 50

Inclusion Criteria

• Current patients of Stanford Healthcare, Bariatric Surgery Clinic, scheduled to undergo bariatric surgery (sleeve or RYGB)
• BMI 30-55kg/m2
• 30-65 years of age
• good general health, no major organ disease
• non-diabetic by current American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria (fasting glucose <126mg/dl)

Read More

Exclusion Criteria

• Subjects with any clinical or biochemical evidence of significant anemia, gastrointestinal, cardiac, hepatic or renal disease will be excluded.
• Subjects with other medical problems may participate as long as the problems are stable.
• Subjects with active psychiatric disorders or past history of bariatric surgery
• Pregnant or lactating women will also be excluded from the study, due to possible risk to the fetus or infant.

Read More

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
T-cell profile in visceral and subcutaneous fat	post-operatively (1-2 years status post bariatric surgery)	Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory T cell profiles in subcutaneous adipose tissue and visceral adipose tissue measured via flow cytometry.
Adipose cell size associated with T cell profile and IR.	post-operatively (1-2 years status post bariatric surgery)	Cell size of subcutaneous adipose tissue and visceral adipose tissue measured via flow cytometry.
Macrophage phenotype	post-operatively (1-2 years status post bariatric surgery)	Frequency of macrophage phenotype (M1 vs M2) in subcutaneous adipose tissue and visceral adipose tissue measured via flow cytometry.
T cell receptor phenotypes	post-operatively (1-2 years status post bariatric surgery)	Frequency of T-cell receptors in subcutaneous adipose tissue and visceral adipose tissue measured via flow cytometry.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in body weight	post-operatively (1-2 years status post bariatric surgery)	Percent body weight loss post bariatric surgery, accounting for insulin sensitivity, T-cell profile, cell size, and macrophage and T-cell phenotypes.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Stanford University; 🇺🇸 Stanford, California, United States