Harnessing Macrophage Lysosomal Lipid Metabolism in Obesity (ATM)
United States60 participantsStarted 2024-08-01
Plain-language summary
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
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 70 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria :
* age: ≥18 but ≤70 years
* not pregnant or breastfeeding
* weight stable and sedentary before enrollment
* no use tobacco products, excessive amounts of alcohol, or dietary supplements, or medications known to or suspected to affect glucose and lipid metabolism (aside from certain medications used to treat diabetes in the metabolically abnormal obesity \[MAO\]-Type 2 Diabetes group)
* no evidence of significant organ system dysfunction or disease (e.g. chronic severe kidney disease, cancer)
* participants must fulfil all of the following group-specific inclusion criteria below:
Lean group:
* Body mass index (BMI) ≥18.5 but \<25.0 kg/m2
* Intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) content \<5%
* fasting blood glucose concentration: \<100 mg/dl
* blood glucose concentration 2 h after a 75 g oral glucose challenge: \<140 mg/dl
* Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) \<5.7 %
Metabolically normal obesity (MNO) group:
* BMI ≥30.0 but \<45.0 kg/m2
* IHTG content \<5%
* fasting blood glucose concentration: \<100 mg/dl
* blood glucose concentration 2 h after a 75 g oral glucose challenge: \<140 mg/dl
* HbA1c \<5.7 %
Metabolically abnormal obesity (MAO)-insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) group:
* BMI ≥30.0 but \<45.0 kg/m2
* IHTG content \>7.5%
* fasting blood glucose concentration: ≥100 but \<126 mg/dl
* blood glucose concentration 2 h after a 75 g oral glucose challenge: ≥140 but \<200 mg/dl
* HbA1c: ≥5.7 but \<6.4 %
MAO-type 2 diabetes group:
* BMI…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.