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The Importance of Insulin Action in the Brain for the Immune System During Physical Activity

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Insulin Sensitivity
Interventions
Other: Spiroergometer test with intranasal placebo spray
Other: Spiroergometer test with intranasal insulin spray
Registration Number
NCT06552130
Lead Sponsor
University of Ulm
Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to clarify the interaction of central insulin action and physical activity with the immune system.

Therefore, participants will undergo bicycle spiroergometer tests. This approach will be compared between days with insulin delivery to the brain as nasal spray and days with placebo spray.

Detailed Description

This research project aims to investigate if the brain insulin action regulates the immune system via the autonomous nervous system during physical activity.

Therefore, insulin action in the brain will be introduced by application of insulin as nasal spray (on one day) versus carrier solution as placebo nasal spray (on another day) in a randomized, blinded fashion. Spray administration will be performed 30 minutes before a 60 min bicycle spiroergometer test at 70 % VO2max that will introduce a postprandial state. On placebo day, the known spillover of tiny amounts of nasal insulin into the systemic circulation will be mimicked by an appropriate i.v. insulin bolus. Using this approach, brain-derived regulation of the immune system including the stimulation of immune cells via cytokines, physical performance, activity of the autonomous nervous system and gene-expression of leukocytes will be examined.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  • BMI < 24 kg/m2
  • no known primary diseases
  • hormonal contraception with a single-phase preparation
Exclusion Criteria
  • Alcohol or drug abuse
  • Smoking
  • At screening: Hb < 12 g/dl for women and Hb < 14 g/dl for men
  • Any (clinical) condition that would endanger participant's safety or question scientific success according to a physician's opinion.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Placebo spraySpiroergometer test with intranasal placebo sprayNasal spray containing placebo solution
Intranasal insulin spraySpiroergometer test with intranasal insulin spray160 Units of human insulin as nasal spray
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Immune system activation120 minutes

Influence of central nervous insulin action on the activation of the immune system activation by exercise, measured by the composition of immune cells in circulation and cytokine release in the supernatant of stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max)60 minutes

Influence of central nervous insulin action on physical performance measured as VO2 peak during spiroergometry.

Heart rate variability120 minutes

Influence of central nervous insulin action on the activity of the autonomic nervous system recorded by means of heart rate variability from an electrocardiogram.

Corticotropic pituitary axis modulation120 minutes

Influence of central nervous insulin action in the activity of the corticotropin pituitary axis during physical activity, measured by cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone

Leukocyte gene expression120 minutes

Influence of central nervous insulin action on the gene expression of leukocytes during physical activity

Individual anaerobic threshold120 minutes

Influence of central nervous insulin action on physical performance. Individual anaerobic threshold assessed by lactate measurement from venous blood sampling.

Catecholamines120 minutes

Influence of central nervous insulin action on the activity of the autonomic nervous system recorded by means of measuring catecholamine concentrations from venous blood.

Effects on blood coagulation parameters120 Minutes

Influence of central nervous insulin action and/or physical activity on blood coagulation parameters assessed through global coagulation tests and single coagulation factors.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Universityhospital Ulm

🇩🇪

Ulm, Germany

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