Immunometabolism of Exercise

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Acute Exercise

• Registration Number: NCT07188389
• Lead Sponsor: University of Houston

Brief Summary

This study aims to examine the effects of acute aerobic exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness on cellular metabolism of CD8+ T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) found in the peripheral blood of humans. In addition, the study will investigate whether the effects of exercise differ based on exercise intensity, as well as whether the effects of exercise and fitness differ between subpopulations of CD8+ T cells and Tregs. Finally, the study aims to examine whether exercise- and fitness-induced changes in cell metabolism relate to changes in cell function.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2024-03-01
• Primary Completion: 2025-04-02
• Study Completion: 2025-04-03
• Status Verified: 2025-09
• Study First Submitted: 2025-09-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-09-17
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-09-17
• Study First Posted: 2025-09-23
• Last Update Posted: 2025-09-23

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 102

Inclusion Criteria

• Men and women, aged 20-40 years
• individuals presenting with average (40th-60th percentile) cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e., VO2max/VO2peak) for their age and sex will be included in acute exercise experiments; individuals with VO2max/VO2peak value >20ml/kg/min will be included in cardiorespiratory fitness experiments
• individuals categorized as 'low risk' for a cardiovascular event/heart disease when screened by American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) criteria

Exclusion Criteria

• adults under the age of 20 and over the age of 40
• Individuals with contraindications to exercise testing will be excluded
• Individuals with musculoskeletal impairments preventing them from exercising on a cycle ergometer
• Individuals with disease history known to impact the immune system and/or systemic metabolism will be excluded, including autoimmune diseases, HIV, Hepatitis, diabetes, cancer (completed treatment within <6 months prior), hyper- or hypothyroidism
• Pregnancy
• Individuals using medications known to impact the cardiopulmonary and/or immune response to exercise with be excluded, including those using medication to control blood pressure (e.g., beta-blockers), daily steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (except daily aspirin), prescription allergy medication, ADHD medication (Ritalin or Adderall), thyroid medication (e.g., Levothyroxine), and chemotherapy (including treatments within the last 6 months).
• Individuals habitually using tobacco products within the last 6 months or with excessive alcohol intake (>10 drinks/week)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Metabolic Function	At rest, immediately after, and two hours after exercise	Cellular metabolic activity and poise of T cells as measured by flow cytometry (SCENITH)
Immune Cell function	At rest, immediately after, and two hours after exercise	Stimulated IFN-gamma, perforin and IL-10 production, as measured by flow cytometry
Metabolic Regulation	At rest, immediately after, and two hours after exercise	Expression of genes involved in cellular energy metabolism, as assessed by RT-PCR
Mitochondrial Regulation	At rest, immediately after, and two hours after exercise	Mitochondrial mass and membrane potential, as assessed by flow cytometry

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Peripheral immune cell composition	At rest, immediately after, and two hours after exercise	Number (concentration) of immune cell subsets in peripheral blood, as measured by hematology analyzer and flow cytometer

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Houston; 🇺🇸 Houston, Texas, United States