Muscle Gene Changes at Different Spots in Insulin Resistance
Official title: Determining Cell- and Spatially-distinct Skeletal Muscle Transcriptional Aberrations With Insulin Resistance
Run by AdventHealth Translational Research Institute · NCT07516509 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests how insulin affects gene activity in different areas of skeletal muscle in adults who are sedentary and fall into lean, obese with good insulin sensitivity, or obese with insulin resistance.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 30 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 36 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | AdventHealth Translational Research Institute Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Orlando, Florida) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 11, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 2028 |
| Study ends | December 2028 |
| Registry record updated | August 12, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07516509 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 30–65 who are sedentary, non-smokers, with stable weight, and categorized into lean insulin-sensitive, obese insulin-sensitive, or obese insulin-resistant groups based on BMI and glucose tolerance.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with significant cardiovascular disease or peripheral vascular disease, or those outside the specified BMI/glucose-tolerance categories, may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study analyzes how skeletal muscle gene expression responds to insulin stimulation across distinct muscle cells and regions, with a focus on how obesity and insulin resistance influence those patterns. Participants are sedentary men and women aged 30–65, categorized into three groups by BMI and glucose tolerance. Methods include measurements such as VO2 max, DEXA, peripheral microvascular reactivity, and assessments of skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity and non-oxidative glucose disposal. The goal is to identify transcriptional changes that may signal impaired insulin action and to understand how obesity-related factors modify these patterns. No intervention is being tested for therapeutic effect; the study characterizes physiological and molecular responses in a cross-sectional observational design.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could reveal molecular markers of insulin resistance in muscle that help guide future diagnostics or targeted therapies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has shown that muscle gene expression can reflect insulin signaling differences across metabolic states, supporting the plausibility of similar approaches.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* All Groups
1. 30 to 65 years of age
2. Stable weight (No Gain/Loss of \>10 lbs in 6 months)
3. Sedentary (≤ 1 continuous exercise/week)
4. Non-smoker
5. Resting Blood Pressure ≤ 150mmHg systolic and ≤ 95 mmHg diastolic
Group A - Lean individuals with insulin sensitivity (IS-Lean)
1. BMI 18-25 kg/m2
2. Hemoglobin A1c ≤ 5.6% at screening
3. Blood glucose level ≤ 140 mg/dL 2hr after a 75g oral glucose tolerance test
Group B - Individuals with obesity and insulin sensitivity (IS-Obesity)
1. BMI 30-40 kg/m2
2. Hemoglobin A1c ≤ 5.6% at screening
3. Blood glucose level ≤ 140 mg/dL 2hr after a 75g oral glucose tolerance test
Group C - Individuals with obesity and insulin resistance (IR-Obesity)
1. BMI 30-40 kg/m2
2. Hemoglobin A1c ≤ 6.4 % at screening
3. Blood glucose level 140-199 mg/dL 2hr after a 75g oral glucose tolerance test
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Clinically significant CVD including h/o MI, within the past year
2. Peripheral Vascular Disease
3. Diagnosed with Type I or Type II diabetes
4. Hepatic, renal, muscular/neuromuscular, or active hematologic/oncologic disease
5. Previous history of pulmonary emboli
6. Peripheral Neuropathy
7. Anemia (Hematocrit \<34%, Hemoglobin \< 14 gm/dL for men and \<12.3 gm/dL for women) at screening
8. Currently pregnant (pregnancy test performed on day of DEXA scan in women of child-bearing potential); post-partum during the last 12 months; lactating during the last 12 months; planning to become pregnant during the participation period
9. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) (self-report)
10. Hospitalization for COVID-19 infection in the past 12 months; individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 but were not hospitalized must be symptom-free at least 14 days
11. Partial and/or full hysterectomy (self-report)
12. Not willing to archive biospecimens for future use
13. Any contraindications to exercise testing according to ACSM guidelines
14. Inability and/ or unwillingness to comply with the protocol as written
15. Active alcohol or substance abuse (Past 5 Years)
16. Positive toxicology result from screening visit or chronic use of Amphetamine, Barbiturate, Benzodiazepine, Cocaine, Methadone, Opiate, THC, Cannabis, Tricyclics, or Oxycodone.
17. Dyslipidemia (fasting triglycerides \>500 mg/dL; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) \>190 mg/dL; total cholesterol \>300 mg/dL);
18. ALT \>80, AST\>80, Alk Phos \>240 if a participant presents with liver functions out of these ranges at screening the MI or PI can give discretion to participate
19. Proteinuria (defined as \> 1+) at screening
20. Kidney disease (creatinine \>1.6 mg/dl or estimated glomerular filtration rate \<60 mL/min/1.73m2);
21. Self-reported chronic, active, or latent infection requiring chronic antibiotic or anti-viral treatment; Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV); active hepatitis B or C undergoing antiviral therapy.
22. Receiving active treatment (including monoclonal antibodies) for autoimmune disorders within the last 6 months;
23. Hypothyroidism (sTSH\>8) at screening or on thyroid replacement therapy
24. Abnormal bleeding or coagulopathy (self-report) or history of a bleeding disorder or clotting abnormality
25. History of cancer (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) within the last 5 years (not in remission); anti-hormonal therapy (e.g., for breast or prostate cancer) within the last 6 months;
26. Previous bariatric or other surgery for obesity
27. Females currently on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) less than 6 months
28. Females with an irregular menstrual cycle
29. Previous difficulty with lidocaine or other local anesthetic
30. ACS symptoms:
* Positive ECG (\> 2mm ST segment depression) without PCP cardiologist permission to participate
* Signs or symptoms of cardiovascular decomposition (eg. hypotensive response to exercise)
* Onset of angina or angina like symptoms, shortness of breath, change in heart rhythm, signs of poor perfusion (light-headedness), tightness.
31. The following medication use is exclusionary;
* Dose change for any chronic-use drug in the last 3 months;
* Any medications that can alter glucose homeostasis (eg. steroids, glucocorticoids, nicotinic acid). Acute therapy (5-7 days) is not exclusionary however; participant must be agreeable to a washout period of 5-7 days prior to day of biopsy.
* Blood thinners such as Coumadin, Lovenox etc. Aspirin is not exclusionary however; participant must be agreeable to a washout period of \> 10 days prior to day of biopsy
* All Weight loss medications including but not limited toGLP-1 agonists- Wegovy, liraglutide, semaglutide, Trulicity (dulaglutide), Phentermine and Contrave
* Cardiovascular: beta blockers and centrally acting anti-hypertensive drugs, anticoagulants, antiarrhythmics, and antiplatelet drugs (other than aspirin ≤100 mg/day);
* Psychiatric: chronic use of medium- or long-acting sedatives and hypnotics, including all benzodiazepines (short-acting non-benzodiazepine sedative-hypnotics are allowed), mood stabilizers, antiepileptic drugs, stimulants, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) drugs, anti-psychotic drugs, anti-depressant medication (e.g. Bupropion, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs)).
* Pulmonary/Inflammation: chronic oral steroids (occasional use of inhaled steroids are allowed), burst/taper oral steroids more than once in the last 12 months, B2-agonists (allowed if on stable dose at least 3 months).
* Genitourinary: 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, daily use of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor.
* Hormonal: androgenic anabolic steroids, anti-estrogens, anti-androgens, estrogens and/or progestins used for reasons other than birth control, growth hormone, insulin like growth factor-I, growth hormone releasing hormone,
* any drugs used to treat diabetes mellitus or lower blood glucose including metformin, thiazolidinediones, SGLT-2 inhibits or insulin
* any drugs used specifically to induce muscle growth/hypertrophy or augment exercise-induced muscle hypertrophy
* Pain/Inflammation: narcotics and narcotic receptor agonists, regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen, muscle relaxants ≥2 days per week
* Other: chronic systemic antimicrobials (antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal, antiparasite, etc.) for any reason, high-potency topical steroids if ≥10% surface area using rule of 9s, continuous/chronic use of antibiotics or other anti-infectives for treatment or prevention, monoclonal antibodies, anti-rejection medications/immune suppressants. Participants can be re-screened after a 3 month washout period if antimicrobial use is only used acutely \< 2 weeks.
32. Presence of any condition that, in the opinion of the Investigator, compromises participant safety or data integrity or the participant's ability to complete the study.
Where it's running
-
AdventHealth Translational Research Institute
Orlando, Florida, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Katie Whytock, PhD — Study Principal Investigator
- Study coordinator: Recruitment Department
- Email: CFD.TRI.Recruitment@AdventHealth.com
- Phone: 407-303-7100
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.