A Pilot Study of Moderate Hyperbilirubinemia in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Specific Aim: To establish the feasibility of studying the change in endothelial function caused by induced moderate hyperbilirubinemia in type 1 diabetes. Atazanavir, a drug that inhibits bilirubin conjugation, will be used to induce moderate hyperbilirubinemia. Endothelial function will be measured before and after atazanavir therapy. In addition, plasma markers of antioxidant capacity and oxidant stress will be measured as proof-of-concept that induced moderate hyperbilirubinemia has favorable effects on oxidative stress in type 1 diabetes.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Atazanavir

Detailed Description

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with a markedly increased risk of both macro- and microvascular disease. Excess pro-oxidants and insufficient antioxidants each contributes to oxidant stress in DM. Oxidant stress induces endothelial dysfunction, a major determinant of vascular damage. In DM, hyperglycemia and elevated free fatty acids (FFAs) induce generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by stimulating protein kinase C (PKC) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (Figure 1). In addition, hyperglycemia activates the renin-angiotensin system, and angiotensin II (Ang II) additively stimulates PKC and NADPH oxidase.

Bilirubin, long regarded as metabolic waste, is, in fact, a potent antioxidant scavenger of ROS. It also directly inhibits both protein kinase C and the NADPH oxidase system, augmenting its antioxidant activity (Figure 1). Moreover, bilirubin inhibits Ang II-mediated vasoconstriction and ROS generation. Experimental models suggest that hyperbilirubinemia may preserve diabetes-associated endothelial function and prevent vasculopathy. Furthermore, epidemiological studies demonstrate that higher bilirubin levels are associated with a reduced risk of vascular disease in DM. Bilirubin therefore emerges as a potentially critical molecule to protect against diabetic vascular and renal damage. However, limited translational research has addressed raising bilirubin levels as a preventive therapy for vascular disease in DM.

Accordingly, the investigators seek to establish the feasibility of studying the change in endothelial function caused by induced moderate hyperbilirubinemia in type 1 diabetes. the investigators will take advantage of the recently described use of atazanavir to safely achieve moderate hyperbilirubinemia. Atazanavir is a protease inhibitor used to treat HIV infection that competitively inhibits hepatic 1A1 isoform of uridine diphosphoglucose glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1), limiting bilirubin clearance and inducing hyperbilirubinemia (Figure 2). This mimics Gilbert's syndrome, a benign unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia due to partial genetic deficiency of UGT1A1.

This work has the potential to identify iatrogenic moderate hyperbilirubinemia as a strategy to interrupt key mechanisms of type 1 diabetes-associated macro- and microvascular disease.

This is a physiologic study. The design is a single arm and open label. There are three study visits: a screening visit, a baseline visit, and a final visit. The treatment is atazanavir 300 mg PO bid. The treatment period is 4 days. The primary study outcome is forearm vascular function. The principal secondary outcomes are serum antioxidant defense capacity and measures of oxidant stress.

The investigators aim to study 20 subjects to completion over the 12 month funding period. The investigators anticipate enrolling 40 subjects before 20 complete the study.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 15
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
      • Brigham and Women's Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Symptoms of diabetes plus casual plasma glucose concentration ≥ 200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l), or;
2. FPG ≥ 126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/l), or;

3. 2-h postload glucose ≥ 200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l) during an OGTT. In addition, subjects would be required to be at increased risk of cardiovascular events, defined as:

   • microalbuminuria, or;
   • T1DM duration of > 20 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. HIV infection
2. Gilbert's syndrome
3. Hepatic failure or active hepatitis,
4. Unstable cardiovascular disease, including angina, heart failure or arrhythmia
5. drug abuse including alcoholism or addiction to cocaine, heroin or amphetamines
6. Use of medications that significantly with atazanavir
7. Pregnancy, or inability to practice adequate contraception

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Allocation: NA
• Interventional Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Atazanavir 300 mg BID; Atazanavir 300 mg BID for 4 days.	Drug: Atazanavir; The study design is a single arm, open label trial. Treatment is atazanavir 300 mg BID per day for 4 days. The Brigham and Women's Hospital Investigational Drug Service (IDS) will dispense study drug.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Brachial Artery Diameter	The primary endpoint is the difference in the change in brachial artery diameter in response to a flow stimulus at visit 2 and 3. It is anticipated that a response will occur following atazanavir therapy compared with baseline. The principal secondary endpoints are the serum measures of oxidant stress and antioxidant capacity.	Day 0 and Day 4

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Collaborators: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Joshua Beckman, MD, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): February 1, 2014
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): February 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 19, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 19, 2011
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): August 22, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): July 21, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 23, 2014
• Last Verified: June 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Endocrine System Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1; Hyperbilirubinemia; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Anti-Infective Agents; Antiviral Agents; Enzyme Inhibitors; Anti-HIV Agents; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Protease Inhibitors; HIV Protease Inhibitors; Viral Protease Inhibitors; Atazanavir Sulfate
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1R03DK094510-01 (NIH)