Actively Recruiting
Harnessing Macrophage Lysosomal Lipid Metabolism in Obesity
Led by Bettina Mittendorfer · Updated on 2025-07-18
60
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
186 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
B
Bettina Mittendorfer
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this study is to evaluate the role of transcription factor EB (TFEB) in adipose (fat) tissue macrophages (ATM) in regulating adipose tissue and systemic metabolic function in obesity. The investigators will assess the differences in ATM lipid metabolism in people with metabolically abnormal obesity and lean individuals. Both groups will have: * screening visit * imaging (body composition testing - dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans, magnetic resonance imaging \[MRI\] and magnetic resonance spectroscopy \[MRS\] scans) * Overnight visit with intravenous infusion (IV), muscle, and fat tissue biopsies Participants with obesity will complete meetings with study team members for a weight loss intervention to achieve a 10% body weight loss.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Harnessing Macrophage Lysosomal Lipid Metabolism in Obesity
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age 18 to 70 years
- Not pregnant or breastfeeding
- Weight stable and sedentary before enrollment
- No use of tobacco products, excessive alcohol, dietary supplements, or medications affecting glucose and lipid metabolism (except certain diabetes medications in MAO-Type 2 Diabetes group)
- No significant organ dysfunction or disease (e.g., chronic severe kidney disease, cancer)
- Group-specific criteria: Lean group: BMI 18.5 to less than 25.0 kg/m2, intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) content less than 5%, fasting blood glucose below 100 mg/dl, blood glucose less than 140 mg/dl 2 hours after oral glucose challenge, HbA1c below 5.7% Metabolically normal obesity (MNO) group: BMI 30.0 to less than 45.0 kg/m2, IHTG less than 5%, fasting blood glucose below 100 mg/dl, blood glucose less than 140 mg/dl 2 hours after glucose challenge, HbA1c below 5.7% Metabolically abnormal obesity (MAO) group: BMI 30.0 to less than 45.0 kg/m2, IHTG above 7.5%, fasting blood glucose 100 to less than 126 mg/dl, blood glucose 140 to less than 200 mg/dl after glucose challenge, HbA1c 5.7 to less than 6.4% MAO-Type 2 diabetes group: BMI 30.0 to less than 45.0 kg/m2, clinical diagnosis of type 2 diabetes or fasting blood glucose above 126 mg/dl or blood glucose above 200 mg/dl after glucose challenge or HbA1c above 6.4% without medication if untreated
You will not qualify if you...
- Individuals who do not meet all inclusion criteria
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Missouri School of Medicine
Columbia, Missouri, United States, 65212
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
H
Heather McHatton
CONTACT
A
Aman Pritish Aher
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
4
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