As people get older, there are changes in their cells and tissues that may affect their ability to function. This can lead to increased death and age-associated disorders, like heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. Studies in animal models have been able to identify drugs that slow the aging process, leading to a longer, healthier life. This study is focused on one such family of drugs, called mTOR inhibitors, and the investigators' goal is to test two of these drugs, Rapamycin (Sirolimus) and Everolimus (Afinitor), in healthy older adults to find a dose and dose timing that can be used to safely inhibit mTOR to the levels seen in young healthy persons. The investigators expect that the dose that works well in women may differ from the one that is best in men, so it is important to include both sexes in this research.
The study will be done in three parts, each with different human subject groups. Participants may only enroll in one of the sub-studies. Sub-study 1: Determining target mTOR activity values in YOUNG untreated subjects (ages 20-30 years): NOTE: This aim of the study is not a clinical trial, so this population will not be included in participant flow or included as an arm in the study. This study defines "best dose" as the choice of drug, dose, and frequency that will come closest to restoring the "youthful" levels of mTOR activity in an older individual. The investigators first need to measure mTOR activity in young untreated subjects to define these target "youthful" mTOR activity levels. Sub-study 2. Finding the most effective drug, dose, and timing for dosing for oral dosing of the mTOR inhibitor drugs in older adults (65-90 years): Healthy older persons will be recruited for a short-term (6 week treatment plus 4 week follow-up) dose-finding study. The most effective, but safe dose will then be tested in a larger number of subjects in Sub-study 3. Importantly, the best drug and dose regimen for females may differ from the one determined for males so the cohort will include both sexes. Sub-study 3. Placebo controlled trial testing of DAILY (sustained) vs. INTERMITTENT mTOR inhibition in older human males and females: Sub-study 3 will enroll healthy older persons (65-90 yrs) for a long-term clinical trial (6 months of treatment plus 6 months of follow-up) with 3 test groups: i) best DAILY dose/drug; ii) best INTERMITTENT dose/drug/interval, and iii) PLACEBO (a pill that looks identical to the medicine, but has no drug in it). This study will help find out what effects, good and/or bad, Rapamycin or Everolimus have on older people who take the drug for a longer period of time. The safety of Rapamycin and Everolimus in humans has been tested in prior research studies; however, some side effects may not yet be known in healthy older persons. By completing the entire study, the Research Team hopes to learn more about how older human subjects can best be treated using these drugs (mTOR inhibitors) to help them live longer, healthier lives.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
194
mTOR inhibitor
mTOR inhibitor
Inert placebo for rapamycin or everolimus
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas, United States
RECRUITINGPharmacokinetics (PK) of mTOR inhibitor in blood
The levels of the study drug will be measured in whole blood
Time frame: Baseline to study end (approximately 12 months for Aim 2; 12 weeks for Aim 1)
PD measure of inhibition of mTOR activity in blood cells - p-rpS6
Proteins prepared from PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) will be analyzed for phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6, downstream of mTORC1.
Time frame: Baseline to study end (approximately 12 months for Aim 2; 12 weeks for Aim 1)
Level of Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (sICAM-1)
The level of soluble (s)ICAM-1 will be measured in serum.
Time frame: Baseline to study end (approximately 12 months)
PK of mTOR inhibitor in fat (Aim 2 only)
The levels of the study drug will be measure in fat tissue obtained by adipose biopsy
Time frame: Baseline and study end (approximately 12 months)
PK of mTOR inhibitor in muscle (Aim 2 only)
The levels of the study drug will be measured in skeletal muscle obtained by biopsy.
Time frame: Baseline to study end (approximately 12 months)
PD measure of inhibition of mTOR activity in fat cells (Aim 2 only) - pS6K
Proteins prepared from adipose tissue will be analyzed for phosphorylation of S6kinase, downstream of mTORC1.
Time frame: Baseline to study end (approximately 12 months)
PD measure of inhibition of mTOR activity in muscle (Aim 2 only) - pS6K
Proteins prepared from skeletal muscle tissue biopsy will be analyzed for phosphorylation of S6kinase, downstream of mTORC1.
Time frame: Baseline to study end (approximately 12 months)
PD measure of inhibition of mTOR activity in PBMCs, S6-kinase
Proteins prepared from PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) will be analyzed for phosphorylation of S6kinase, downstream of mTORC1.
Time frame: Baseline to study end (approximately 12 months)
PD measure of inhibition of mTOR activity in adipose cells, rpS6 (Aim 2 only)
Proteins prepared from adipose biopsies will be analyzed for phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6, downstream of mTORC1.
Time frame: Baseline to study end (approximately 12 months)
PD measure of inhibition of mTOR activity in muscle rpS6 (Aim 2 only)
Proteins prepared from muscle biopsies will be analyzed for phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6, downstream of mTORC1.
Time frame: Baseline to study end (approximately 12 months)
PD measure of inhibition of mTOR activity in adipose (fat) cells Akt (Aim 2 only)
Proteins prepared from adipose biopsies will be analyzed for phosphorylation of Akt, downstream of mTORC2.
Time frame: Baseline to study end (approximately 12 months)
PD measure of inhibition of mTOR activity in muscle Akt (Aim 2 only)
Proteins prepared from muscle biopsies will be analyzed for phosphorylation of Akt, downstream of mTORC2.
Time frame: Baseline to study end (approximately 12 months)
PD measure of inhibition of mTOR activity in PBMCs Akt
Proteins prepared from PBMCs will be analyzed for phosphorylation of Akt, downstream of mTORC2.
Time frame: Baseline to study end (approximately 12 months)
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