Glucagon: Effect of Physiologic Hyperglucogonemia on Adipocyte Metabolism

Sponsor
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (Other)
Overall Status
Recruiting
CT.gov ID
NCT04300049
Collaborator
South Texas Veterans Health Care System (U.S. Fed)
12
2
1
102.6
6
0.1

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Purpose/Objectives: To investigate the effect of hyperglucagonemia on insulin action, particularly on adipose tissue.

Research Design/Plan: Normal glucose tolerant subjects will be studied. Study subjects will receive a continuous glucagon infusion for 12 hours. Following glucagon infusion, subjects will receive prime-continuous tracer infusions for additional 4 hours to measure adipocyte metabolism. Within 6-8 weeks, subjects will return for a repeat study with normal saline as a control group.

Methods: All subjects will have an oral glucose tolerance test prior to participation to confirm they are normal glucose tolerant. Subjects will be admitted to the CRC at 4 PM and will receive a continuous glucagon for 12 hours. At 6 AM on the following morning, subjects will receive prime-continuous tracer infusions of the following for 4 hours (14C-glycerol, 3-3H glucose, and D2O). At 10 AM continuous indirect calorimetry will be performed to determine rates of energy expenditure and glucose/lipid oxidation for 40 minutes. At 6 AM a surgical biopsy of abdominal adipose tissue will be performed for measurement of adipocyte metabolism. At 8 AM, the study team will infuse insulin/glucose to test for insulin sensitivity.

Clinical Relevance: The results of this study will help the study team to further understand the pathophysiology of metabolic disturbances that is induced by hyperglucagonemia in type 2 diabetes patients.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Drug: Glucagon Infusion
  • Other: Saline
Early Phase 1

Detailed Description

Visit 1 Screening: All subjects will be performed indirect calorimetry to determine rates of energy expenditure and glucose/lipid oxidation for 40 minutes prior to all other procedures to obtain a fasting calorimetry. Subjects then will have a 75 gram oral glucose tolerance test to document the presence of normal glucose tolerance. Blood will be drawn at -30, -15, 0 and at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes thereafter for the determination of plasma glucose, insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, FFA, glycerol, GLP-1 and GIP concentrations. The total amount of blood to be taken during the OGTT is 148 ml or about 10 tablespoons. Participants will also undergo a total body fat (DXA) and hepatic fat content (MRS). Subjects will also have a routine physical exam, an ECG, weight, height, vitals and collection of prior medical history. The study team will also check blood glucose (sugar) and blood lipid (fat) levels. The total amount of blood that we will take for the screening blood tests, HbA1c, lipid, and other blood tests is 34 ml or about 2 1/3 tablespoons.

Visit 2 Adipose Tissue Metabolism Measurement: Subjects (n=12) will be admitted to the CRC at 4 PM on the day prior to study and received a standardized, weight maintaining diet containing 50% CHO: 30% fat: 20% protein. At 6 PM subjects will receive a continuous glucagon (3 ng/kg.min, N=6) or glucagon (6 ng/kg.min, N=6) for 12 hours. Subjects will remain fasting after 10 PM. Samples for glucagon, FFA, insulin and C-peptide will be collected at 1700, 1730, 1800, 1900, 2100, 2300, 0100, 0300, and 0500 hours.

At 6 AM on the following morning subjects will receive prime-continuous tracer infusions of the following for 4 hours (see figure 1):

(i) 14-C-glycerol (prime = 30 µCi; continuous infusion = 0.3 µCi/min) for determination of total body rate of lipolysis.

(ii) 3-3H-glucose (prime = 40 µCi; continuous infusion = 0.4 µCi/min) for determination of rates of total body glucose appearance and disappearance.

(iii) D2O (5 g/kg fat free mass at 9 PM orally) to determine the rate of de novo lipogenesis.

At 6 AM a surgical biopsy of subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue will be performed for measurement of hormone sensitive (HSL) lipase activity, AMPK activity, and serine phosphorylation of HSL (see Figure 2), FGF-21, FAP, Beta-klotho. Insulin signaling (IR/IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, PI-3 kinase activity, Akt) molecules, GLUT4, markers of inflammation (IkB, NF-kB, T4R4TLR4, JNK, p38 MAPK, M2/M1 macrophages, IL-1, IL-6, TNF alpha, MCP-1) also will be measured on the fat biopsy. Lipidomic analysis to quantitate the amount of and type of fat in the adipose tissue biopsy also will be performed. After surgical biopsy of adipose tissue, starting the tracer equilibration (6AM) blood will be drawn every 15-30 minutes for 4 hours (6-10 AM) for substrate (glucose, FFA, glycerol, triglycerides), hormone (glucagon, insulin, C-peptide, GLP-1, GIP, adiponectin, leptin, FGF21 [active and total], FAP [degrading enzyme]), radioisotope (14-C-glycerol and 3-3H glucose) specific activity. Participants will place their hand in a transparent plastic thermo-regulated box heated to 50-60°C (122-140°F) to ensure good blood flow to the hand. Pasma samples for radioisotope activity (background) will be obtained at 6 AM. At 9 AM continuous indirect calorimetry will be performed to determine rates of energy expenditure and glucose/lipid oxidation for 40 minutes.

The glucagon infusion will be continued through the 4-hour tracer infusion (i.e. 6AM-10AM). At the end of the glucagon infusion (~10 AM) a repeat measurement of hepatic fat content will be obtained. A total of 366 ml of blood will be drawn.

At 8 AM the insulin sensitivity test will be done during the last two hours of the tracer infusion. During the 2 hours of the insulin sensitivity test, the insulin (60 mU/m2 ⋅ min) and glucose will be given through the catheter in the vein in the subject's arm to determine rates of whole-body insulin sensitivity. There are no expect adverse reactions to be experienced by the subjects during both infusions.

Study Design

Study Type:
Interventional
Anticipated Enrollment :
12 participants
Allocation:
N/A
Intervention Model:
Single Group Assignment
Intervention Model Description:
single arm before and after glucagon vs. salinesingle arm before and after glucagon vs. saline
Masking:
None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose:
Basic Science
Official Title:
Effect of Physiologic Hyperglucogonemia on Adipocyte Metabolism
Actual Study Start Date :
Feb 5, 2018
Anticipated Primary Completion Date :
Dec 30, 2025
Anticipated Study Completion Date :
Aug 25, 2026

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Change in Glycerol Ra

The difference in rate of lipolysis (glycerol Ra) during the basal state (-120 -0 minute) between subjects receiving glucagon and saline represents the change in whole body lipolysis caused by glucagon.

Drug: Glucagon Infusion
Study participants will receive glucagon infusion (6ug/kg/min for 12 hours) 12 hours.
Other Names:
  • IV Glucagon
  • Other: Saline
    Study participants will receive saline infusion for 12 hours.
    Other Names:
  • Normal saline
  • Outcome Measures

    Primary Outcome Measures

    1. the rate of glycerol turnover [12 hours after the infusion]

      effect of glucagon infusion on whole body lipolysis,

    Eligibility Criteria

    Criteria

    Ages Eligible for Study:
    18 Years to 50 Years
    Sexes Eligible for Study:
    All
    Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
    Yes
    Inclusion Criteria:
    1. Fasting Glucose < 100 mg/dl

    2. HbA1C < 5.7%

    3. 2-h OGTT value < 140 mg/dl

    4. Good general Health as determined by medical history, physical exam, screening lab tests, urinalysis, and EKG.

    5. Weight Stable (±3 lbs) over the preceding 3 months

    6. ages from 18-50

    7. Male/Female

    8. BMI from 23-28 kg/m2 -

    Exclusion Criteria:
    1. Subjects who participate in an excessively heavy exercise program.

    2. Subjects taking any medication known to affect glucose tolerance will be excluded.

    3. Cannot be pregnant

    4. Hyper sensitive to glucagon

    Contacts and Locations

    Locations

    Site City State Country Postal Code
    1 South Texas Veterans Health Care Center San Antonio Texas United States 78229
    2 The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio Texas United States 78229

    Sponsors and Collaborators

    • The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    • South Texas Veterans Health Care System

    Investigators

    • Principal Investigator: Ralph DeFronzo, MD, University of Texas Health San Antonio

    Study Documents (Full-Text)

    None provided.

    More Information

    Publications

    None provided.
    Responsible Party:
    The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
    NCT04300049
    Other Study ID Numbers:
    • HSC20170682H
    First Posted:
    Mar 9, 2020
    Last Update Posted:
    Sep 8, 2021
    Last Verified:
    Aug 1, 2021
    Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
    No
    Plan to Share IPD:
    No
    Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product:
    Yes
    Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product:
    No
    Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.:
    No
    Keywords provided by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    Additional relevant MeSH terms:

    Study Results

    No Results Posted as of Sep 8, 2021