Impact of Propionic Acid on Regulatory T Cell Function in Healthy Adults ( Pro-Health)

N/AActive Not RecruitingNCT06198374

Charite University, Berlin, Germany24 enrolled

Overview

Pro-Health is a single-center, double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled intervention study in healthy adults. The investigators address the effect of a dietary food supplementation of propionic acid on the immune system and the function of the intestinal barrier in healhty adults.

Chronic inflammation is a major risk factor of cardiovascular disease progression in CKD, irrespective of confounding comorbidities. Based on current knowledge, microbially-derived metabolites such as short chain fatty acids (SCFA) play an important role in the regulation of chronic inflammatory processes in CKD patients. Patients with CKD are known to have reduced serum levels of the SCFA propionic acid (PA), as a consequence of both gut microbial dysbiosis and reduced fiber intake. In animal and human studies the impact of PA on function and abundance of regulatory T cells (Treg) has been demonstrated. Consequently, the investigators aim to increase the PA serum levels by oral PA food supplementation in healthy adults in order to perspectively intervene with the same strategy in patients with CKD in the near future, with the target to increase abundance and function of antiinflammatory cells.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

QUADRUPLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Healthy

Interventions

Sodium propionateDIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

The patients will be randomized to PA or placebo intervention (2:1 randomization). After the intervention of 28 days, we conduct an open-label study phase, where all patients are offered a dietary supplement of PA for overall 12 weeks (8 additional weeks for the intervention group and 12 weeks for the placebo group). By doing so we are giving every patient the opportunity to take PA and benefit from the possible positive impact on immunsystem and intestinal barrier function.

PlaceboOTHER

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 40 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * 18 - 40 years old * Body weight: \> 30kg Exclusion Criteria: * Disease or dysfunctions, which disqualifies the patient * Incapacity of contract or any other circumstances, which prohibit the patient from understanding setup, meaning and entity of the study * Acute infections * Immunosuppressive therapy within the last 12 weeks before the start of the study * Pre-/pro- or postbiotic or antibiotic therapy within the last 4 weeks before the start of the study * Planned or unplanned hospitalization within in last 4 weeks before the start of the study or during study * Malignant diseases * Pregnancy * chronic gastrointestinal or hepatic diseases (for example chronic inflammatory bowel disease * alcohol- or drug abuse * parallel participation on other interventional trials

Locations (1)

Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Nephrology and Metabolic Diseases, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Berlin, Germany

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in count of regulatory T-cells from baseline to week 4

Analysis of Treg counts in whole blood (absolute quantification) and peripheral blood

Time frame: Baseline visit (week 0) in comparison to week 4

Secondary Outcomes

Propionic acid serum levels and targeted metabolomics

Analysis of PA serum levels and other microbially-derived metabolites by GC-MS and LC-MS

Time frame: Baseline visit (week 0); Week 2; Week 4

Relative abundance of different immune cell subsets with Immune cell phenotyping of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)

Patients PBMC will be thawed and immune cells we be analyzed using multicolor flow cytometry and mass cytometry. By using a broad range of different antibodies combined in several panels the investigators will analyse distinct T cell subtypes including markers of activation, but also other immune cells (including B cells, dendritic cells, monocytes, natural killer cells). Data will reported in relation to parent populations (e.g. T heller cells in % of T cells).

Time frame: Baseline visit (week 0); Week 2; Week 4

Measuring the suppressive function of regulatory T cells (Tregs) as percentage of proliferated conventional CD4-positive T cells with an in vitro T regulatory cell (Treg) suppression assay

The suppressive capacity of patients Treg will be analyzed by co-cultivation with conventional, stimulated T cells (Tconv) in different proportions (Treg:Tconv). The proliferation of Tconv will be reported.

Time frame: Baseline visit (week 0); Week 4

Single cell RNA sequencing of immune cells

Analysis of the transcriptome of immune cells using cellular indexing of transcriptomes and epitopes (CITEseq)

Time frame: Baseline visit (week 0); Week 4

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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