The Effect of Local Antioxidant Therapy on Racial Differences in Vasoconstriction

Cardiovascular Diseases Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Effect of Local Antioxidant Therapy on Racial Differences in Vasoconstriction

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03680404
• Other study ID #: 2018-0441
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Start date: October 1, 2018
• Est. completion date: February 1, 2020

Study information

• Verified date: November 2020
• Source: The University of Texas at Arlington
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The goal of this study is to examine possible mechanisms of heightened vasoconstriction in Black/African American men and women as possible links to the elevated prevalence of cardiovascular dysfunction and disease. The main targets in this study are sources of oxidative stress.

Description:

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) afflicts nearly one-third of the adult population with all races and ethnicities represented in CVD prevalence. Unfortunately, a disparity exists such that the black population (BL) is disproportionately affected compared to other groups, including the white population (WH). While the underlying cause of this disparity is multifactorial, vascular dysfunction (i.e., impaired vasodilation and/or augmented vasoconstriction) is a key contributor. As has been previously observed, BL exhibit a heightened vasoconstrictor response to both pharmacological (e.g., alpha-adrenergic receptor agonists) and environmental (e.g., cold pressor test) stimuli compared to their WH counterparts. Additionally, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the subsequent reduction in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability may partially mediate this response.

Interestingly, the small blood vessels in the skin (cutaneous microvasculature) in BL, but otherwise healthy individuals, produce an impaired blood flow response to local heating when compared to age-, body mass index (BMI)-, and gender-matched WH. However, pre-treatment of the cutaneous microvasculature with either allopurinol or apocynin (xanthine oxidase inhibitor and NADPH oxidase inhibitor, respectively) abolishes this skin blood flow difference. These drugs inhibit possible sources of ROS, which, as mentioned, may be mediating the heightened vasoconstrictor response in BL. Accordingly, apocynin administration in previous research using an animal model ameliorates alpha-adrenergic receptor-mediated vasoconstriction, possibly due to a reduction in ROS. The role of xanthine/NADPH oxidase and the production of ROS on alpha-adrenergic receptor-mediated vasoconstriction in humans remains unknown.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 24
• Est. completion date: February 1, 2020
• Est. primary completion date: February 1, 2020
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 35 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals (ages 18-35, both genders) will be recruited from the greater Arlington area to participate in the study.

• Must self-report both parents as either African American or Caucasian American.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who have donated more than 550 ml of blood within the past 8 weeks will not have blood drawn from them in this protocol. However, if they remain interested in the study, and otherwise meet the inclusion criteria, than we may still opt to proceed with data collection.

• Individuals with cardiovascular, neurological, and/or metabolic illnesses will be excluded from participating as well as individuals with a history of various diseases of the microvasculature including Reynaud's disease, cold-induced urticaria, cryoglobulinemia, etc.

• Subjects currently taking any prescription medications and individuals with a body mass index about 30 kg/m2) will be excluded.

• Pregnant subjects and children (i.e. younger than 18) will not be recruited for the study. Eligible females will be scheduled for days 2-7 of their menstrual cycle to account for hormonal effects on blood flow. A regular menstrual cycle is required to identify and schedule the study for the low hormone period, therefore females who lack a regular cycle will be excluded from the study. Females currently taking birth control are eligible, as long as they can be scheduled during a low-hormone "placebo" week. If their hormone do not contain a placebo week than these individuals will not be eligible for data collection. Females who are breast-feeding will also be eligible as there are no systemic or lasting effects of the proposed vasoactive agents.

• Given that smoking can affect the peripheral vasculature, current smokers and individuals who regularly smoked (>1 pack per two weeks) within the prior 2 years will be excluded

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Cardiovascular Risk Factor
• Vasoconstriction

Intervention

Drug:
• Control (Phenylephrine)
This intervention is aimed at assessing the vascular responsiveness to phenylephrine, an alpha 1-agonist, in white and black men and women across a series of ascending dose concentrations.
• Phenylephrine + Apocynin
This intervention is meant to assess the impact of NADPH oxidase-derived superoxide on vasoconstrictor responses by inhibiting the enzyme NADPH oxidase.
• Phenylephrine + Allopurinol
This intervention is meant to assess the impact of xanthine oxidase-derived superoxide on vasoconstrictor responses by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase.
• Phenylephrine + Tempol
This intervention is meant to assess the impact of superoxide on vasoconstrictor responses by scavenging available superoxide.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Science and Engineering Research and Innovation Building	Arlington	Texas

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
The University of Texas at Arlington

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Vasoconstrictor Responsiveness to Phenylephrine using Laser Doppler Fluxmetry	Establish heightened vasoconstriction to phenylephrine stimulation in black men and women with a focus on black women. Following local infusions of phenylephrine, the changes in blood flux will be quantified using laser Doppler fluxmetry. All changes in flux will be normalized and reported as a percentage of baseline flux.	Through study completion, an average of 1 Year
Primary	Role of Oxidative Stress in Heightened Vasoconstriction using Laser Doppler Fluxmetry	Determine to what degree superoxide, either generally available or produced through xanthine/NADPH oxidases, contributes to heightened phenylephrine-mediated vasoconstriction. Following local coninfusions of phenylephrine with apocynin, allopurinol, or tempol, the changes in blood flux will be quantified using laser Doppler fluxmetry. All changes in flux will be normalized and reported as a percentage of baseline flux.	Through study completion, an average of 1 Year