CB1 Receptors in Human Brown Adipose Tissue

Turku University Hospital18 enrolled

Overview

This study investigates cannabinoid CB1 receptors in human brown adipose tissue (BAT) and other tissues using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Subjects will be scanned in room temperature conditions and during controlled cold exposure, and the density of CB1 receptors in BAT and other tissues will be quantified. The investigators hypothesize, that cannabinoid signaling is increased in cold conditions, when BAT is metabolically active. Understanding the mechanisms of BAT activation and the role of endocannabinoids in humans is important and beneficial in fighting against the epidemic of obesity and diabetes.

Endocannabinoids have an important role in regulating energy balance and metabolism. Cannabinoid 1 receptors (CB1) are found in several tissues such as brown adipose tissue (BAT). Endocannabinoids and CB1 receptors participate in the control of lipid and glucose metabolism, and blockage of CB1 receptors has been found to improve metabolic factors linked to obesity and cardiovascular disease, making CB1 antagonists potential drugs against obesity and diabetes. In this study the investigators use a PET radiotracer \[18F\]FMPEP-d2, which binds to CB1 receptors in vivo, to quantify the CB1 receptor density in BAT, white adipose tissue, muscle and the brain. This study is done once in warm conditions and once during controlled cold exposure. To verify whether the subject has metabolically active BAT, an additional PET scan with the radiotracer \[18F\]FDG is performed.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Obesity

Interventions

Cold exposureOTHER

Controlled cold exposure is performed before and during PET scan

[18F]FMPEP-d2OTHER

PET radiotracer used in imaging

[18F]FDGOTHER

PET radiotracer used in imaging

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 60 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy volunteer * Group 1: BMI 20-26 kg/m2, Group2: BMI 27-40 kg/m2 Exclusion Criteria: * BMI \< 20 kg/m2or BMI \> 40 kg/m2 * Any chronic disease that could affect the study outcome, including medicated type 2 diabetes * Mental disorder or poor compliance * Eating disorder or excessive use of alcohol, tobacco smoking or drug use * Past dose of radiation * Presence of any ferromagnetic objects that would make MR imaging contraindicated * Any other condition that in the opinion of the investigator could create a hazard to the subject safety, endanger the study procedures or interfere with the interpretation of study results

Locations (1)

Turku PET Centre (Turku University Hospital)

Turku, Finland

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

CB1 density of brown adipose tissue acquired with PET

PET imaging is used to quantify CB1 receptors in tissues

Time frame: within one study day

Secondary Outcomes

Glucose uptake of brown adipose tissue acquired with PET

PET imaging is used to quantify glucose uptake in tissues

Time frame: within one study day

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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