Regulation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells by Short-Term Exercise (EPC-Ex)

Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) are circulating cells released from bone marrow which are important for maintaining cardiovascular health. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease in older adults is associated with reduced circulating EPC numbers. Studies have shown reduced EPC number and function in old vs. young individuals, and endurance exercise training increases EPC number and function in young adults. Oxidative stress adversely affects endothelial cells and preliminary evidence indicates that oxidative stress negatively affects EPC function. Conversely, regular exercise reduces markers of oxidative stress and may enhance EPC function in older adults. The investigators hypothesize that older endurance-trained athletes and matched sedentary individuals will have markedly divergent EPC function and that altering the physical activity levels of both groups will move them to intermediate points between these two extremes. The investigators also propose that the investigators can "mimic" the effect of exercise training on EPC function in cell culture by altering intracellular levels of a key enzyme and a signaling molecule which the investigators have shown to regulate EPC function with respect to exercise training in young individuals.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Cardiovascular Disease; Exercise; Aging
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Exercise Training; Other: Exercise Cessation

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21201
      • University of Maryland, Baltimore & Baltimore VA Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 50 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 50-80 years of age, BMI = 18-35 kg/m2, non-smoking, women must be postmenopausal

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of cardiovascular/cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, renal, liver disease, HIV; uncontrolled hyperlipidemia/hypertension

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Sedentary Older Adults	Other: Exercise Training; 2 weeks of daily aerobic exercise training
Experimental: Older Endurance Athletes	Other: Exercise Cessation; Stopping all exercise for 2 weeks

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Baseline Endothelial progenitor cell number	Day 1
Final Endothelial Progenitor Cell Number	Day 15

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Baseline Endothelial Reactivity	Day 1
Final Endothelial Reactivity	Day 15

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Baltimore VA Medical Center
• Collaborators: University of Maryland, Baltimore; University of Maryland, College Park
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Steven J Prior, Ph.D., University of Maryland, Baltimore

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• University of Maryland Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: July 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 23, 2010
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 23, 2010
• First Posted (Estimate): July 26, 2010

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 13, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 11, 2023
• Last Verified: April 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: HP-00045413