Immunometabolism of Exercise

NCT07188389 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: STUDY00004272
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 102
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to examine the effects of acute aerobic exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness on cellular metabolism of CD8+ T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) found in the peripheral blood of humans. In addition, the study will investigate whether the effects of exercise differ based on exercise intensity, as well as whether the effects of exercise and fitness differ between subpopulations of CD8+ T cells and Tregs. Finally, the study aims to examine whether exercise- and fitness-induced changes in cell metabolism relate to changes in cell function.

Conditions

No Condition, Assessment of Healthy Volunteers

Keywords

Cardiorespiratory fitness; acute exercise

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Metabolic Function

  Cellular metabolic activity and poise of T cells as measured by flow cytometry (SCENITH)

  At rest, immediately after, and two hours after exercise

• Immune Cell function

  Stimulated IFN-gamma, perforin and IL-10 production, as measured by flow cytometry

  At rest, immediately after, and two hours after exercise

• Metabolic Regulation

  Expression of genes involved in cellular energy metabolism, as assessed by RT-PCR

  At rest, immediately after, and two hours after exercise

• Mitochondrial Regulation

  Mitochondrial mass and membrane potential, as assessed by flow cytometry

  At rest, immediately after, and two hours after exercise

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Peripheral immune cell composition

  At rest, immediately after, and two hours after exercise

Study Arms (2)

Acute effects: Moderate Intensity Exercise

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants with a moderate fitness level (determined by VO2max value recorded during graded exercise test) will cycle 30minutes exercise below ventilatory threshold. Outcome measures will be compared within-subject across blood sampled before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 2h post exercise. The order of the exercise sessions (above vs below threshold) will be randomized.

Behavioral: Acute exercise-moderate intensity

Acute effects: Heavy intensity exercise

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants with a moderate fitness level (determined by VO2max value recorded during graded exercise test) will bicycle 30 minutes above ventilatory threshold. Outcome measures will be compared within-subject across blood sampled before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 2h post exercise. The order of the exercise sessions (above vs below threshold) will be randomized.

Behavioral: Acute effects-heavy intensity

Interventions

Acute exercise-moderate intensity BEHAVIORAL

30 minutes of cycling exercise at moderate (90% of first ventilatory threshold)

Acute effects: Moderate Intensity Exercise

Acute effects-heavy intensity BEHAVIORAL

Participants will cycle 30 minutes at heavy (110% of first ventilatory threshold) intensity

Acute effects: Heavy intensity exercise

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Men and women, aged 20-40 years
• individuals presenting with average (40th-60th percentile) cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e., VO2max/VO2peak) for their age and sex will be included in acute exercise experiments; individuals with VO2max/VO2peak value \>20ml/kg/min will be included in cardiorespiratory fitness experiments
• individuals categorized as 'low risk' for a cardiovascular event/heart disease when screened by American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) criteria

You may not qualify if:

• adults under the age of 20 and over the age of 40
• Individuals with contraindications to exercise testing will be excluded
• Individuals with musculoskeletal impairments preventing them from exercising on a cycle ergometer
• Individuals with disease history known to impact the immune system and/or systemic metabolism will be excluded, including autoimmune diseases, HIV, Hepatitis, diabetes, cancer (completed treatment within \<6 months prior), hyper- or hypothyroidism
• Pregnancy
• Individuals using medications known to impact the cardiopulmonary and/or immune response to exercise with be excluded, including those using medication to control blood pressure (e.g., beta-blockers), daily steroidal and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (except daily aspirin), prescription allergy medication, ADHD medication (Ritalin or Adderall), thyroid medication (e.g., Levothyroxine), and chemotherapy (including treatments within the last 6 months).
• Individuals habitually using tobacco products within the last 6 months or with excessive alcohol intake (\>10 drinks/week)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Houston: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Houston

Houston, Texas, 77204, United States

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 17, 2025
• First Posted: September 23, 2025
• Study Start: March 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: April 2, 2025
• Study Completion: April 3, 2025
• Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

US (1)