Trial Outcomes & Findings for Ertugliflozin: Cardioprotective Effects on Epicardial Fat (NCT NCT04167761)

NCT ID: NCT04167761

Last Updated: 2026-06-04

Results Overview

The rate of lipolysis was measured under basal, isoproterenol-stimulated, and insulin-suppressed conditions in adipose tissue depots (epicardial, pericardial, and subcutaneous) treated with and without Ertugliflozin. Lipolysis was quantified using a colorimetric assay to determine metabolic flexibility. Cardiac adipose tissue explants cultured with ertugliflozin compared to mock condition.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

EARLY_PHASE1

Target enrollment

61 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Time to collect tissue collected during surgery (up to 15 minutes)

Results posted on

2026-06-04

Participant Flow

Unit of analysis: Ertugliflozin-treated tissue samples

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Ertugliflozin (Treated Tissue)
Adipose tissue samples collected from participants were treated with Ertugliflozin at a concentration of 25 µM in vitro. Tissue samples were incubated with Ertugliflozin to evaluate its effects on lipolysis, inflammation, and gene expression in epicardial, pericardial, and subcutaneous adipose tissues Ertugliflozin: Adipose tissue samples collected from participants were treated with Ertugliflozin at a concentration of 25 µM in vitro. This treatment was applied in a laboratory setting to assess the effects of Ertugliflozin on lipolysis, inflammatory cytokine release, and gene expression in epicardial, pericardial, and subcutaneous adipose tissue
Overall Study
STARTED
61 74
Overall Study
Participants who contributed samples
37 74
Overall Study
COMPLETED
37 74
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
24 0

Reasons for withdrawal

Withdrawal data not reported

Baseline Characteristics

Ertugliflozin: Cardioprotective Effects on Epicardial Fat

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Ertugliflozin (Treated Tissue)
n=40 Ertugliflozin-treated tissue samples
Adipose tissue samples collected from participants were treated with Ertugliflozin at a concentration of 25 µM in vitro. Tissue samples were incubated with Ertugliflozin to evaluate its effects on lipolysis, inflammation, and gene expression in epicardial, pericardial, and subcutaneous adipose tissues Ertugliflozin: Adipose tissue samples collected from participants were treated with Ertugliflozin at a concentration of 25 µM in vitro. This treatment was applied in a laboratory setting to assess the effects of Ertugliflozin on lipolysis, inflammatory cytokine release, and gene expression in epicardial, pericardial, and subcutaneous adipose tissue
Age, Continuous
56.93 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 16.76 • n=18 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
5 Participants
n=18 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
13 Participants
n=18 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
18 participants
n=18 Participants
BMI
33.4 kg/m²
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.38 • n=18 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Time to collect tissue collected during surgery (up to 15 minutes)

Population: Participants with tissue samples analyzable with optimized assays for lipolysis

The rate of lipolysis was measured under basal, isoproterenol-stimulated, and insulin-suppressed conditions in adipose tissue depots (epicardial, pericardial, and subcutaneous) treated with and without Ertugliflozin. Lipolysis was quantified using a colorimetric assay to determine metabolic flexibility. Cardiac adipose tissue explants cultured with ertugliflozin compared to mock condition.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Mock (Control)
n=40 Ertugliflozin-treated tissue samples
Adipose tissue samples collected from participants were incubated without Ertugliflozin to serve as a control condition.
Ertugliflozin (Treated Tissue)
n=40 Ertugliflozin-treated tissue samples
Adipose tissue samples collected from participants were treated with Ertugliflozin at a concentration of 25 µM in vitro. Tissue samples were incubated with Ertugliflozin to evaluate its effects on lipolysis, inflammation, and gene expression in epicardial, pericardial, and subcutaneous adipose tissues Ertugliflozin: Adipose tissue samples collected from participants were treated with Ertugliflozin at a concentration of 25 µM in vitro. This treatment was applied in a laboratory setting to assess the effects of Ertugliflozin on lipolysis, inflammatory cytokine release, and gene expression in epicardial, pericardial, and subcutaneous adipose tissue
Rate of Isoproterenol-Stimulated Lipolysis in Adipose Tissue Depots to Measure Metabolic Flexibility
Basal
45 µmol/L/hr
Standard Deviation 10
105 µmol/L/hr
Standard Deviation 10
Rate of Isoproterenol-Stimulated Lipolysis in Adipose Tissue Depots to Measure Metabolic Flexibility
Isoproterenol-Stimulated
65 µmol/L/hr
Standard Deviation 12
120 µmol/L/hr
Standard Deviation 12
Rate of Isoproterenol-Stimulated Lipolysis in Adipose Tissue Depots to Measure Metabolic Flexibility
Insulin-Suppressed
85 µmol/L/hr
Standard Deviation 15
135 µmol/L/hr
Standard Deviation 15

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Time to collect tissue collected during surgery (up to 15 minutes)

Population: Participants with tissue samples analyzable with optimized assays for lipolysis

Levels of cytokines, including MCP1, TNF-β, IL-6, IFN-γ, and IL1-β, were measured in the culture medium of treated and untreated adipose tissue depots (epicardial, pericardial, and subcutaneous) using Luminex assays. Cytokine levels were used to characterize inflammation and response to Ertugliflozin treatment in cardiac adipose tissue explants) and isolated adipocytes after culture with Ertugliflozin vs mock condition.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Mock (Control)
n=40 Ertugliflozin-treated tissue samples
Adipose tissue samples collected from participants were incubated without Ertugliflozin to serve as a control condition.
Ertugliflozin (Treated Tissue)
n=40 Ertugliflozin-treated tissue samples
Adipose tissue samples collected from participants were treated with Ertugliflozin at a concentration of 25 µM in vitro. Tissue samples were incubated with Ertugliflozin to evaluate its effects on lipolysis, inflammation, and gene expression in epicardial, pericardial, and subcutaneous adipose tissues Ertugliflozin: Adipose tissue samples collected from participants were treated with Ertugliflozin at a concentration of 25 µM in vitro. This treatment was applied in a laboratory setting to assess the effects of Ertugliflozin on lipolysis, inflammatory cytokine release, and gene expression in epicardial, pericardial, and subcutaneous adipose tissue
Cytokine Secretion Profiles in Adipose Tissue Depots
TNFB (Explant)
131 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 18
138 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 12
Cytokine Secretion Profiles in Adipose Tissue Depots
MCP1 (Adipocytes)
30957 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 15887
22352 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 16001
Cytokine Secretion Profiles in Adipose Tissue Depots
IFN-G (Explant)
159 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 34
179 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 34
Cytokine Secretion Profiles in Adipose Tissue Depots
IL1-B (Explant)
449 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 578
836 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 1055
Cytokine Secretion Profiles in Adipose Tissue Depots
MCP1 (Explant)
37370 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 6873
39405 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 4011
Cytokine Secretion Profiles in Adipose Tissue Depots
IL-6 (Explant)
51035 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 3206
51923 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 2451
Cytokine Secretion Profiles in Adipose Tissue Depots
IFN-G (Adipocytes)
134 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 523521
114 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 52
Cytokine Secretion Profiles in Adipose Tissue Depots
IL1-B (Adipocytes)
281 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 594
266 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 491
Cytokine Secretion Profiles in Adipose Tissue Depots
TNFB (Adipocytes)
132 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 52
125 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 57
Cytokine Secretion Profiles in Adipose Tissue Depots
IL-6 (Adipocytes)
35904 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 19154
29682 Mean Fluorescence Intensity (MFI)
Standard Deviation 20958

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Time to process tissue samples collected during surgery (up to 15 minutes).

Population: There were no analyzable aliquots remaining to be allocated to this analysis, all aliquots were allocated for analysis of the primary outcome measures. Additional aliquots cannot be obtained, therefore it is not possible to obtain or report data for this outcome measure.

Adipose cell size distribution was assessed in subcutaneous and pericardial adipose tissue samples using osmium fixation and cell diameter measurements. The relationship between cell size and Ertugliflozin treatment was analyzed.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome

Timeframe: Time to collect tissue collected during surgery (up to 15 minutes)

Expression of genes related to inflammation and lipid metabolism (e.g., MCP1, TNF-β, IL-6) was measured in adipose tissue samples using mRNA extraction and RT-PCR after Ertugliflozin treatment. Analysis was performed to evaluate molecular changes in adipose depots (epicardial, pericardial, and subcutaneous).

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

Adverse Events

Ertugliflozin (Treated Tissue)

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr Tracey McLaughlin

Stanford University

Phone: (650) 725 2430

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place