- ICH GCP
- US Clinical Trials Registry
- Clinical Trial NCT03367663
The Effect of Prednisone on Atherogenesis as Studied in the Macrophage Foam Cell Formation Model System.
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are a class of endogenous steroid hormones produced by the adrenal glands and controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). One of the mechanisms of their action is achieved through ligand-receptor attachment to a class of cytosolic steroid hormone receptors termed Glucocorticoid Receptors (GRs). The formed ligand-receptor complex is a transcription factor involved in gene activation of anti-inflammatory products or repression of pro-inflammatory products [1]. Synthetic forms of GCs are a group of anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medications (e.g. Prednisone) that are widely used in clinical practice to treat inflammatory diseases (e.g. Rheumatoid Arthritis, Vasculitis, Asthma). The effectiveness of this class of drugs is limited by numerous adverse effects that include, but not limited to, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, all of which are well known risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) [2,3]. Furthermore, recent research suggest that inflammation has a key role in development of CVD and can predict prognosis [4]. Inflammatory cells have an important role in the development of atherosclerotic lesion in the arteries. Blood monocyte-derived macrophages are involved in this process, and they infiltrate the lesion where they take up various forms of lipids (cholesterol - rich LDL, and oxidized LDL) as well as triglycerides - rich VLDL), followed by the formation of lipid-laden foam cells, the hallmark of early atherogenesis. Inflammatory cells and molecules as well as proteolytic enzymes secreted from inflammatory cells in the atherosclerotic lesion, have a central role in destabilizing the plaque (vulnerable plaque) leading to its rupture, which, in turn, induces thrombosis, and initiating acute coronary events [4,5].
Based on our understanding of the involvement of inflammation in the early development of atherosclerotic lesion, and our experience with the anti-inflammatory effects of synthetic GCs, a hypothesis emerged suggesting this class of drugs as a way to inhibit early atherosclerotic plaque formation, and to attenuate CVDs [6]. Research results in this field are surprising because while glucocorticoids treatment in humans increase the risk of CVDs [6,7,8,9], animal models shows the opposite, atheroprotection was shown in rabbits [10,11,12] and mice [13,14,15]. This paradox may be explained partially by the fact that clinical studies in this field are mainly conducted in patients with predisposing factors to develop CVD, either because of pre-existing traditional risk factors like Diabetes and Hyperlipidemia, or because of the pre-existing medical condition they are being treated for with GCs (e.g. Rheumatoid Arthritis). Mechanism based research to study the effects of GCs on atherogenesis, without confounding factors, is lacking. Only few studies were performed on GCs in healthy subjects but none of them explored their effects on foam cell formation [16,17].
Our study thus aims to further our understanding of the role of specific glucocorticoid, prednisone, in the process of atherogenesis. In order to achieve that we plan to study the following: 1. The effects of five days of treatment with prednisone on serum lipid concentration and oxidative stress. 2. an Ex-vivo study is planned where the serum of healthy human subjects treated with Prednisone, will be introduced to J774A.1 murine macrophage-like cell line, a well-studied macrophage foam cell formation model.
Study Overview
Status
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Study Type
Enrollment (Actual)
Phase
- Early Phase 1
Contacts and Locations
Study Locations
-
-
-
Haifa, Israel, 31096
- Rambam Health Care Campus
-
-
Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Genders Eligible for Study
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male subjects between the ages of 18-50 years of age, with a body mass index within the range of 18 to 27 kg/m2, with no previous medical history of illnesses or drug allergy and with no current medical treatments.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Students or hospital employees under the direct supervision of the PI or lead researcher. Any previous history of acute or chronic illnesses including but not limited to Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, Gastrointestinal, Renal, Endocrinal, Cancer, Diabetes or Pre-Diabetes (HbA1c > 5.5%), Hypertension, Dyslipidemia, Smoking, or who had taken glucocorticoids within the previous 3 months before the study.
Study Plan
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Basic Science
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: None (Open Label)
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: low dose
Each participant will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, low dose of Prednisone 20mg/d (n=10) and high dose of Prednisone 40 mg/d (n=10).
During the experimental periods, the subjects will take either one or two 20mg tablet of Prednisone, according to their assigned group.
Subjects will be instructed to take the tablets at home in the mornings after a meal each day for 5 consecutive days.
At the baseline visit, a medical history will be documented and a physical examination will be performed.
Subjects will be asked to come to the research unit on days 1,2,5 after a 14h fasting where two blood samples (5ml each) will be taken, immediately centrifuged, one for biochemical analysis (Lipid profile, Liver function tests, Glucose, Electrolytes and Renal function tests) and the second will be aliquoted, and stored at -20°C until later analyses.
|
Each participant will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, low dose of Prednisone 20mg/d (n=10) and high dose of Prednisone 40 mg/d (n=10).
During the experimental periods, the subjects will take either one or two 20mg tablet of Prednisone, according to their assigned group.
Subjects will be instructed to take the tablets at home in the mornings after a meal each day for 5 consecutive days.
At the baseline visit, a medical history will be documented and a physical examination will be performed.
Subjects will be asked to come to the research unit on days 1,2,5 after a 14h fasting where two blood samples (5ml each) will be taken, immediately centrifuged, one for biochemical analysis (Lipid profile, Liver function tests, Glucose, Electrolytes and Renal function tests) and the second will be aliquoted, and stored at -20°C until later analyses.
|
Experimental: high dose
Each participant will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, low dose of Prednisone 20mg/d (n=10) and high dose of Prednisone 40 mg/d (n=10).
During the experimental periods, the subjects will take either one or two 20mg tablet of Prednisone, according to their assigned group.
Subjects will be instructed to take the tablets at home in the mornings after a meal each day for 5 consecutive days.
At the baseline visit, a medical history will be documented and a physical examination will be performed.
Subjects will be asked to come to the research unit on days 1,2,5 after a 14h fasting where two blood samples (5ml each) will be taken, immediately centrifuged, one for biochemical analysis (Lipid profile, Liver function tests, Glucose, Electrolytes and Renal function tests) and the second will be aliquoted, and stored at -20°C until later analyses.
|
Each participant will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, low dose of Prednisone 20mg/d (n=10) and high dose of Prednisone 40 mg/d (n=10).
During the experimental periods, the subjects will take either one or two 20mg tablet of Prednisone, according to their assigned group.
Subjects will be instructed to take the tablets at home in the mornings after a meal each day for 5 consecutive days.
At the baseline visit, a medical history will be documented and a physical examination will be performed.
Subjects will be asked to come to the research unit on days 1,2,5 after a 14h fasting where two blood samples (5ml each) will be taken, immediately centrifuged, one for biochemical analysis (Lipid profile, Liver function tests, Glucose, Electrolytes and Renal function tests) and the second will be aliquoted, and stored at -20°C until later analyses.
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
Serum atherogenicity
Time Frame: 3 months
|
Macrophage lipids (triglycerides and cholesterol) content (μg/mg cell protein) following incubation with serum derived from the subjects.
|
3 months
|
Collaborators and Investigators
Sponsor
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Tony Hayek, MD, Rambam Health Care Campus
Publications and helpful links
General Publications
- Hansson GK. Inflammation, atherosclerosis, and coronary artery disease. N Engl J Med. 2005 Apr 21;352(16):1685-95. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra043430. No abstract available.
- Cohen DM, Steger DJ. Nuclear Receptor Function through Genomics: Lessons from the Glucocorticoid Receptor. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2017 Jul;28(7):531-540. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2017.04.001. Epub 2017 May 8.
- Stahn C, Buttgereit F. Genomic and nongenomic effects of glucocorticoids. Nat Clin Pract Rheumatol. 2008 Oct;4(10):525-33. doi: 10.1038/ncprheum0898. Epub 2008 Sep 2.
- Schacke H, Docke WD, Asadullah K. Mechanisms involved in the side effects of glucocorticoids. Pharmacol Ther. 2002 Oct;96(1):23-43. doi: 10.1016/s0163-7258(02)00297-8.
- Dickhout JG, Basseri S, Austin RC. Macrophage function and its impact on atherosclerotic lesion composition, progression, and stability: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2008 Aug;28(8):1413-5. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.108.169144. No abstract available.
- Walker BR. Glucocorticoids and cardiovascular disease. Eur J Endocrinol. 2007 Nov;157(5):545-59. doi: 10.1530/EJE-07-0455.
- del Rincon I, O'Leary DH, Haas RW, Escalante A. Effect of glucocorticoids on the arteries in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2004 Dec;50(12):3813-22. doi: 10.1002/art.20661. Erratum In: Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Feb;52(2):678.
- del Rincon I, Battafarano DF, Restrepo JF, Erikson JM, Escalante A. Glucocorticoid dose thresholds associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2014 Feb;66(2):264-72. doi: 10.1002/art.38210.
- Ajeganova S, Svensson B, Hafstrom I; BARFOT Study Group. Low-dose prednisolone treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis and late cardiovascular outcome and survival: 10-year follow-up of a 2-year randomised trial. BMJ Open. 2014 Apr 7;4(4):e004259. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004259.
- Cavallero C, Di Tondo U, Mingazzini PL, Nicosia R, Pericoli MN, Sarti P, Spagnoli LG, Villaschi S. Cell proliferation in the atherosclerotic plaques of cholesterol-fed rabbits. Part 3. Histological and radioautographic observations on glucocorticoids-treated rabbits. Atherosclerosis. 1976 Nov-Dec;25(2-3):145-52. doi: 10.1016/0021-9150(76)90020-4.
- Makheja AN, Bloom S, Muesing R, Simon T, Bailey JM. Anti-inflammatory drugs in experimental atherosclerosis. 7. Spontaneous atherosclerosis in WHHL rabbits and inhibition by cortisone acetate. Atherosclerosis. 1989 Apr;76(2-3):155-61. doi: 10.1016/0021-9150(89)90099-3.
- Asai K, Funaki C, Hayashi T, Yamada K, Naito M, Kuzuya M, Yoshida F, Yoshimine N, Kuzuya F. Dexamethasone-induced suppression of aortic atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits. Possible mechanisms. Arterioscler Thromb. 1993 Jun;13(6):892-9. doi: 10.1161/01.atv.13.6.892.
- Auvinen HE, Wang Y, Princen H, Romijn JA, Havekes LM, Smit JW, Meijer OC, Biermasz NR, Rensen PC, Pereira AM. Both transient and continuous corticosterone excess inhibit atherosclerotic plaque formation in APOE*3-leiden.CETP mice. PLoS One. 2013 May 22;8(5):e63882. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063882. Print 2013.
- Out C, Dikkers A, Laskewitz A, Boverhof R, van der Ley C, Kema IP, Wolters H, Havinga R, Verkade HJ, Kuipers F, Tietge UJ, Groen AK. Prednisolone increases enterohepatic cycling of bile acids by induction of Asbt and promotes reverse cholesterol transport. J Hepatol. 2014 Aug;61(2):351-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2014.03.025. Epub 2014 Mar 26.
- Tauchi Y, Zushida L, Chono S, Sato J, Ito K, Morimoto K. Effect of dexamethasone palmitate-low density lipoprotein complex on cholesterol ester accumulation in aorta of atherogenic model mice. Biol Pharm Bull. 2001 Aug;24(8):925-9. doi: 10.1248/bpb.24.925.
- Fleishaker DL, Mukherjee A, Whaley FS, Daniel S, Zeiher BG. Safety and pharmacodynamic dose response of short-term prednisone in healthy adult subjects: a dose ranging, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016 Jul 16;17:293. doi: 10.1186/s12891-016-1135-3.
- Kauh EA, Mixson LA, Shankar S, McCarthy J, Maridakis V, Morrow L, Heinemann L, Ruddy MK, Herman GA, Kelley DE, Hompesch M. Short-term metabolic effects of prednisone administration in healthy subjects. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2011 Nov;13(11):1001-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2011.01432.x.
- Nikitina NA, Sobenin IA, Myasoedova VA, Korennaya VV, Mel'nichenko AA, Khalilov EM, Orekhov AN. Antiatherogenic effect of grape flavonoids in an ex vivo model. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2006 Jun;141(6):712-5. doi: 10.1007/s10517-006-0260-7. English, Russian.
- Hamoud S, Hayek T, Volkova N, Attias J, Moscoviz D, Rosenblat M, Aviram M. Pomegranate extract (POMx) decreases the atherogenicity of serum and of human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMDM) in simvastatin-treated hypercholesterolemic patients: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized, prospective pilot study. Atherosclerosis. 2014 Jan;232(1):204-10. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2013.11.037. Epub 2013 Nov 19.
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Actual)
Primary Completion (Actual)
Study Completion (Actual)
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (Actual)
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
- Cardiovascular Diseases
- Vascular Diseases
- Metabolic Diseases
- Arteriosclerosis
- Arterial Occlusive Diseases
- Lipid Metabolism Disorders
- Dyslipidemias
- Atherosclerosis
- Physiological Effects of Drugs
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents
- Antineoplastic Agents
- Glucocorticoids
- Hormones
- Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists
- Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
- Prednisone
Other Study ID Numbers
- 0254-17-RMB
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.
This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.
Clinical Trials on Diabetes
-
University of Colorado, DenverMassachusetts General Hospital; Beta Bionics, Inc.CompletedDiabetes Mellitus, Type 1 | Type 1 Diabetes | Diabetes type1 | Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus | Autoimmune Diabetes | Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin-Dependent | Juvenile-Onset Diabetes | Diabetes, Autoimmune | Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus 1 | Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin-Dependent, 1 | Diabetes Mellitus, Brittle | Diabetes Mellitus, Juvenile-Onset and other conditionsUnited States
-
Guang NingRecruitingType 2 Diabetes Mellitus | Type1 Diabetes Mellitus | Monogenetic Diabetes | Pancreatogenic Diabetes | Drug-Induced Diabetes Mellitus | Other Forms of Diabetes MellitusChina
-
University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto DouroCompletedType 2 Diabetes Mellitus | Diabetes-Related ComplicationsPortugal
-
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation TrustBrighter ABCompletedDiabetes type1 | Diabetes type2United Kingdom
-
VeraLight, Inc.InLight SolutionsUnknownGestational Diabetes | Insulin Dependent Diabetes | Non Insulin Dependent DiabetesUnited States
-
Garvan Institute of Medical ResearchWeizmann Institute of ScienceActive, not recruitingType 2 Diabetes Mellitus | Pre DiabetesAustralia
-
Oregon State UniversitySanofiCompletedType I or Type II Diabetes (Excludes Gestational Diabetes)
-
Taichung Veterans General HospitalNational Health Research Institutes, TaiwanRecruitingDiabetes Complications | Type 2 Diabetes | Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY)Taiwan
-
University of RoehamptonRecruitingType2 Diabetes Mellitus | Pre DiabetesUnited Kingdom
-
University of ReadingCompletedDiabetes, Type 2 | Diabetes Mellitus, Noninsulin-DependentUnited Kingdom, Kuwait
Clinical Trials on Prednisone 20 Mg
-
Vanda PharmaceuticalsCompletedNon-24-Hour-Sleep-Wake Disorder
-
Eisai Co., Ltd.Completed
-
BayerCompletedPharmacokineticsGermany
-
Peking Union Medical College HospitalNot yet recruiting
-
PfizerCompleted
-
Janssen Research & Development, LLCCompleted
-
University of South FloridaNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); National Institute of Arthritis... and other collaboratorsActive, not recruitingVasculitis | Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis | Wegener GranulomatosisUnited States
-
Chong Kun Dang PharmaceuticalCompletedDyslipidemiasKorea, Republic of
-
Tourmaline Bio, Inc.RecruitingThyroid Eye DiseaseUnited States, Jordan
-
Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.CompletedMajor Depressive DisorderUnited States