Mitigating the Pro-inflammatory Phenotype of Obesity

Description

The purpose of this study is to examine the hypothesize that 4 weeks of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) inhibition (oral clonidine) will cause a significant reduction in circulating blood concentrations and endothelial cell expression of inflammatory markers (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6). Our study is a prospective study using a randomized, double-blinded design to test 4 weeks of SNA blockade (oral clonidine) compared with a BP-lowering control condition (diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide) or a placebo.

Conditions

Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Obesity, Insulin Resistance, Diuretics Drug Reactions, Sympathetic Nerve Activity

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

The purpose of this study is to examine the hypothesize that 4 weeks of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) inhibition (oral clonidine) will cause a significant reduction in circulating blood concentrations and endothelial cell expression of inflammatory markers (e.g., TNF-α, IL-6). Our study is a prospective study using a randomized, double-blinded design to test 4 weeks of SNA blockade (oral clonidine) compared with a BP-lowering control condition (diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide) or a placebo.

Mitigating the Pro-inflammatory Phenotype of Obesity

Mitigating the Pro-inflammatory Phenotype of Obesity

Condition
Blood Pressure
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Kansas City

University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, United States, 66103

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Male or Female, age 18-79
  • * Obese: BMI \> 30 m/kg2
  • * Hypertensive: blood pressure \>130/80
  • * Elevated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR \> 2.5)
  • * Waist circ: \>102 cm (men) and \>88 cm (women)
  • * Fasting glucose \< 126 mg/dL
  • * Fasting triglycerides \< 250 mg/dL
  • * HbA1c \< 6.5%
  • * Willing to visit research lab (Fairway CTSU)
  • * Willing to undergo a blood draw
  • * Able to provide written informed consent
  • * Current use of clonidine or beta-blockers
  • * Current smoker or History of smoking in the past 3 months.
  • * Hyperlipidemia: Fasting triglycerides \> 250 mg/dL
  • * Currently taking hypertension medication
  • * History of heart disease (e.g., myocardial infarction, stent, byass, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy)
  • * History of neurological disorders
  • * History of transplant
  • * Actively participating in other studies, except for a registry study.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 79 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Kansas Medical Center,

Seth W. W Holwerda, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Kansas Medical Center

Study Record Dates

2025-07-31