Investigating the Incretin Effect in Cystic Fibrosis

Summary

Most Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients now commonly live well into adulthood, this means they are progressively accumulating damage to the insulin-secreting cells inside their pancreas. This explains why most adult patients have some degree of abnormal sugar regulation \& rates of diabetes rise significantly with age. CF related diabetes is categorically different from other types of diabetes \& its development is serious as it heralds a faster decline in lung function \& a reduced life expectancy.

The hallmark of abnormal sugar handling in CF is high glucose levels after meals as the damaged pancreas responds abnormally slowly. Over 70% of the initial response of a healthy pancreas is induced, not by glucose alone, but by hormones released from the bowel known as incretins. We want to establish whether incretins are important in blood sugar handling in CF as specific drugs that enhance their effect are now available.

The study hypothesis is that the incretin system will function normally in patients with Cystic Fibrosis. To show this we will measure how much insulin secretion is dependant on incretin hormones in CF patients by comparing levels after a sugary drink test and then an intravenous glucose drip test (run at a rate that mimics the blood sugar levels obtained during the first test to make it a fair comparison ) - as incretins will only be produced in the first test when the sugar passes through the bowel any extra insulin produced will be due to these hormones. To detect resistance to the incretin hormones we will separately measure responses to direct infusions of the hormones themselves. We will explore which components of meals cause incretin hormone release from the bowel wall by measuring blood levels after different types of meals are consumed. Finally we will measure levels of the enzyme that breaks down the incretin hormones (DPP-4) to know if they are deactivated more quickly in people with CF. By describing the incretin system in CF we will considerably improve our understanding of this important condition as well as potentially highlighting new ways to treat it.

Conditions

• Cystic Fibrosis

Interventions

DRUG

Oral Glucose Tolerance test (75g 2-hour)

A standard 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test where fasted patients (10hours overnight) consume a 75g glucose solution \& have glucose levels recorded up to every 30 mins for 2hours

DRUG

Modified Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (50g 4-hours)

A 4-hour version of the oral glucose tolerance test where fasted patients (10hours overnight) consume a 50g of glucose solution \& have glucose levels recorded up to every 5mins as well pancreatic and incretin responses at 10 fixed time points.

DRUG

Matched isoglycemic clamp

A glucose drip will be infused at a variable rate that recreates the individual subjects blood glucose values obtained during their 4-hour modified oral glucose tolerance test. This test will therefore last 4-hours and again subjects will be fasted (10hours overnight) at the time of the test. The same blood tests will be performed at the same time points as the modified glucose tolerance test

DRUG

Hyperglycemic clamp with concurrent GLP-1 infusion

An intravenous glucose infusion will be infused at a rate that maintains blood glucose at a level of 180-216mg/dL (10-12 mmol/l) (hyperglycemic clamp). After 60mins an infusion of GLP-1 will be commenced at a rate of 0.25pmol/kg/min for 60mins and then continued at a rate of 1.2pmol/kg/min for a further 60mins. Subjects will be blinded to what infusion they are receiving.

DRUG

Hyperglycemic Clamp with concurrent GIP infusion

An intravenous glucose infusion will be infused at a rate that maintains blood glucose at a level of 180-216mg/dL (10-12 mmol/l) (hyperglycemic clamp). After 60mins an infusion of GIP will be commenced at a rate of 1pmol/kg/min for 60mins and then continued at a rate of 4pmol/kg/min for a further 60mins. Subjects will be blinded to what infusion they are receiving.

DRUG

Hyperglycemic clamp with placebo infusion

An intravenous glucose infusion will be infused at a rate that maintains blood glucose at a level of 180-216mg/dL (10-12 mmol/l) (hyperglycemic clamp). After 60mins an infusion of normal saline will be commenced as a placebo infusion. It will be infused at a rate so that the total volume of fluid is similar to that infused during the other two hyperglycemic clamp interventions. Subjects will be blinded to what infusion they are receiving.

OTHER

Liquid Meal Test (Carbohydrate-rich)

A standardised liquid meal (carbohydrate-rich) containing approximately 500kcal would be administered to patients who had fasted overnight (10hrs). Over the next 4hours bloods would be sampled at 10 fixed time points to measure features of the incretin response to this type of meal.

OTHER

Liquid Meal Test (Fat-rich)

A standardised liquid meal (fat-rich) containing approximately 500kcal would be administered to patients who had fasted overnight (10hrs). Over the next 4hours bloods would be sampled at 10 fixed time points to measure features of the incretin response to this type of meal.

OTHER

Liquid Meal Test (Mixed)

A standardised liquid meal (mixed) containing approximately 500kcal would be administered to patients who had fasted overnight (10hrs). Over the next 4hours bloods would be sampled at 10 fixed time points to measure features of the incretin response to this type of meal.

DEVICE

Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Continuous glucose monitoring entails wearing a small portable device, usually on the upper arm, for a period of three days. The device uses a small plastic tube to record the glucose level from interstitial fluid \& every minute wirelessly transmits this information to a base unit to enable a very accurate estimate of average blood sugar control to be defined.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Gareth H Jones, MBChB · Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital

Eligibility

Min Age

17 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2013-12-31

Primary Completion

2015-07-31

Completion

2015-07-31

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations