Clinical trial NCT01040819: Does Pioglitazone Increase the Production of 15-EPI-Lipoxin A4?
Official title: Does Pioglitazone Increase the Production of Prostacyclin (PGI2) and/or 15-EPI-Lipoxin A4 in Humans With Diabetes Mellitus Type 2?
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE4
Conditions: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus
6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha
15-epi-lipoxin A4
Thiazolidinediones
Pioglitazone
Lead sponsor: Baylor College of Medicine
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2009-12-30
Enrollment: 25
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 21
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Type-2 diabetes mellitus is a public health concern. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are at high risk of developing cardiovascular complications. Diabetic patients are two to four-times more likely to develope cardiovascular disease. The mortality of diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease is much higher than in non-diabetic matched patients with cardiovascular disease. Recently, it has become apparent that not all anti-diabetic drugs have the same effect on the progression of atherosclerosis and on cardiovascular outcomes. There is a great need to understand the potential protective mechanisms of the various anti-diabetic drugs in order to decrease their risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In addition to increasing insulin sensitivity, Pioglitazone (PIO) has anti-inflammatory properties. However, the underlying mechanisms of these anti-inflammatory (and probably anti-atherosclerotic) effects of PIO are unknown. We have shown in the rat that 3-day pretreatment with PIO increases myocardial cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) activity and levels of both 6-keto-PGF1a, the stable metabolite of prostacyclin (PGI2) and 15-epi-lipoxin A4, a lipid mediator with a strong anti-inflammatory properties. Prostacyclin inhibits platelet aggregation and causes vasodilatation. Increased levels of 6-keto-PGF1a and 15-epi-lipoxin A4 may thus be the explanation for the anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerosis effects of PIO. Several clinical studies have shown that COX2 inhibition is associated with increased cardiovascular events. Thus, augmenting COX2 activity and the production of prostacyclin and 15-epi-lipoxin A4 may have potential favorable effects. The purpose of the study is to test whether PIO therapy is associated with an increase in serum and/or urine levels of 6-keto-PGF1a and 15-epi-lipoxin A4 in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.

Detailed description: Type-2 diabetes mellitus is a public health concern. According to the World health organization (WHO), diabetes mellitus affects more than 180 million people worldwide. Type 2 diabetes mellitus accounts for 80-95% of diabetes cases in developed countries and a higher proportion in developing countries (IDF 2006). Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus are at high risk of developing cardiovascular complications. Diabetic patients are two to four-times more likely to develope cardiovascular disease. The mortality of diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease is much higher than in non-diabetic matched patients with cardiovascular disease. Recently, it has become apparent that not all anti-diabetic drugs have the same effect on the progression of atherosclerosis and on cardiovascular outcomes. There is a great need to understand the potential protective mechanisms of the various anti-diabetic drugs in order to decrease their risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In addition to increasing insulin sensitivity, Pioglitazone (PIO) has anti-inflammatory properties. Several studies have suggested that PIO decreases serum markers of inflammation including C-reactive protein (CRP). However, the underlying mechanisms of these anti-inflammatory (and probably anti-atherosclerotic) effects of PIO are unknown. We have shown in the rat that 3-day pretreatment with PIO increases myocardial cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) activity and levels of both 6-keto-PGF1a, the stable metabolite of prostacyclin (PGI2) and 15-epi-lipoxin A4, a lipid mediator with a strong anti-inflammatory properties. Prostacyclin inhibits platelet aggregation and causes vasodilatation. Increased levels of 6-keto-PGF1a and 15-epi-lipoxin A4 may thus be the explanation for the anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerosis effects of PIO. Several clinical studies have shown that COX2 inhibition is associated with increased cardiovascular events. Thus, augmenting COX2 activity and the production of prostacyclin and 15-epi-lipoxin A4 may have potential favorable effects. The purpose of the study is to test whether PIO therapy is associated with an increase in serum and/or urine levels of 6-keto-PGF1a and 15-epi-lipoxin A4 in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men and women \> 21 years old with type 2 diabetes Mellitus and otherwise stable medical conditions

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Serum creatinine \>= 1.5 mg/dl and/or renal failure
2. NYHA class III or IV heart failure
3. Known intolerance to TZD
4. Current use of NSAID, COX-2 inhibitors, steroids (oral, topical and inhalation) or immunosuppressive therapy
5. Aspirin \> 162 mg/d
6. Recent myocardial infarction, ACS, or stroke \<=3 months)
7. Significant comorbid conditions such as: cancer (not cured), end stage renal disease, severe obstructive lung disease, cirrhosis, etc)
8. Recent (\<1 month) infection
9. Recent CABG or PCI (\<3 months)
10. Use of prostaglandin analogs (i.e., iloprost)
11. Active inflammatory disease
12. Current use of TZD
13. Pregnancy
14. Osteoporosis or high risk for bone fracture. Use of other antihyperglycemic agents is not an exclusion criterion. HbA1c and glucose levels will not restrict enrollment.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Plasma 15-epi-lipoxin A4
timeFrame: 2 months
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Houston
country: United States
facility: Baylor Clinics
state: Texas
city: HOuston
country: United States
facility: Baylor College of Medicine
state: Texas
Study officials:
affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine
name: Yochai Birnbaum, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Ye Y, Lin Y, Perez-Polo JR, Uretsky BF, Ye Z, Tieu BC, Birnbaum Y. Phosphorylation of 5-lipoxygenase at ser523 by protein kinase A determines whether pioglitazone and atorvastatin induce proinflammatory leukotriene B4 or anti-inflammatory 15-epi-lipoxin a4 production. J Immunol. 2008 Sep 1;181(5):3515-23. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.181.5.3515.
citation: Birnbaum Y, Ye Y, Lin Y, Freeberg SY, Huang MH, Perez-Polo JR, Uretsky BF. Aspirin augments 15-epi-lipoxin A4 production by lipopolysaccharide, but blocks the pioglitazone and atorvastatin induction of 15-epi-lipoxin A4 in the rat heart. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat. 2007 Feb;83(1-2):89-98. doi: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2006.10.003. Epub 2006 Nov 7.
citation: Birnbaum Y, Ye Y, Lin Y, Freeberg SY, Nishi SP, Martinez JD, Huang MH, Uretsky BF, Perez-Polo JR. Augmentation of myocardial production of 15-epi-lipoxin-a4 by pioglitazone and atorvastatin in the rat. Circulation. 2006 Aug 29;114(9):929-35. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.629907. Epub 2006 Aug 14.