Immunometabolism of Exercise (IMEX)

University of Houston

Status: Completed

Conditions: Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Acute Exercise

Treatments: Behavioral: Acute effects-heavy intensity; Behavioral: Acute exercise-moderate intensity

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07188389

STUDY00004272

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to examine the effects of acute aerobic exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness on cellular metabolism of CD8+ T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) found in the peripheral blood of humans. In addition, the study will investigate whether the effects of exercise differ based on exercise intensity, as well as whether the effects of exercise and fitness differ between subpopulations of CD8+ T cells and Tregs. Finally, the study aims to examine whether exercise- and fitness-induced changes in cell metabolism relate to changes in cell function.

Enrollment: 102 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Men and women, aged 20-40 years
• individuals presenting with average (40th-60th percentile) cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e., VO2max/VO2peak) for their age and sex will be included in acute exercise experiments; individuals with VO2max/VO2peak value >20ml/kg/min will be included in cardiorespiratory fitness experiments
• individuals categorized as 'low risk' for a cardiovascular event/heart disease when screened by American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) criteria

Exclusion criteria

• adults under the age of 20 and over the age of 40
• Individuals with contraindications to exercise testing will be excluded
• Individuals with musculoskeletal impairments preventing them from exercising on a cycle ergometer
• Individuals with disease history known to impact the immune system and/or systemic metabolism will be excluded, including autoimmune diseases, HIV, Hepatitis, diabetes, cancer (completed treatment within <6 months prior), hyper- or hypothyroidism
• Pregnancy
• Individuals using medications known to impact the cardiopulmonary and/or immune response to exercise with be excluded, including those using medication to control blood pressure (e.g., beta-blockers), daily steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (except daily aspirin), prescription allergy medication, ADHD medication (Ritalin or Adderall), thyroid medication (e.g., Levothyroxine), and chemotherapy (including treatments within the last 6 months).
• Individuals habitually using tobacco products within the last 6 months or with excessive alcohol intake (>10 drinks/week)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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102 participants in 2 patient groups

Acute effects: Moderate Intensity Exercise

Experimental group

Description:

Participants with a moderate fitness level (determined by VO2max value recorded during graded exercise test) will cycle 30minutes exercise below ventilatory threshold. Outcome measures will be compared within-subject across blood sampled before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 2h post exercise. The order of the exercise sessions (above vs below threshold) will be randomized.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Acute exercise-moderate intensity

Acute effects: Heavy intensity exercise

Experimental group

Description:

Participants with a moderate fitness level (determined by VO2max value recorded during graded exercise test) will bicycle 30 minutes above ventilatory threshold. Outcome measures will be compared within-subject across blood sampled before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 2h post exercise. The order of the exercise sessions (above vs below threshold) will be randomized.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Acute effects-heavy intensity