Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT03711838

Redox Regulation of Satellite Cells and Skeletal Muscle Healing

Skeletal muscle stem cells (Satellite cells) are indispensable for muscle growth and remodeling following myofibril damage. Skeletal muscle trauma is present in numerous catabolic conditions, characterized by elevated proteolysis and muscle wasting such as, cancer cachexia and muscular dystrophy, which result in physical capacity impairment and a deteriorated quality of life. Recent studies performed in animals and cell cultures indicate that the increased levels of inflammation and oxidative stress and the reduction of antioxidant defense may blunt the satellite cells response and myogenic programming during muscle healing. However, evidence regarding the effects of redox status on satellite cells and muscle myogenic potential in humans is lacking. Exercise-induced muscle damage bears striking similarities with the aforementioned conditions, which makes it a valuable tool to investigate the redox-dependent regulation of satellite cells during muscle healing. Thus, the objectives of the present study are to examine the effects of redox status perturbation (via N-acetylcysteine administration) on intracellular pathways responsible for satellite cells responses at rest and following aseptic muscle trauma induced by damaging exercise.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Satellite Cells Aseptic Inflammation Exercise-induced Muscle Trauma Redox Status

Age range

18 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry, Exercise Physiology,and Sports Nutrition, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly

Trikala, Thessaly, 42100, Greece

About this study

A total number of 40-60 young males aged 18-30 will be initially enrolled in the study. Then, participants will be allocated to either a 1) Low glutathione (GSH-low) or a 2) High glutathione (GSH-high) group based on the basal glutathione levels of their vastus lateralis muscle. In a double-blind, crossover, repeated measures design, participants will consume either Placebo (PLA) or N-acetylcysteine (NAC) before (7-day loading phase), on exercise day and for 8 consecutive days following a single bout of intense exercise (300 eccentric contractions at 30 deg/sec in an isokinetic dynamometer). In both conditions, blood samples and muscle biopsies will be collected at baseline, before the exercise protocol and at 2- and 8-days post-exercise. Muscle performance and soreness will also be assessed at the same time points. Before each trial, participants' dietary intake will be analyzed via diet recalls. Physical activity will be analyzed only at baseline via accelerometry. A 4-week washout period will be implemented between trials. Blood samples will be analyzed for inflammation and oxidative stress markers. Muscle samples will be analyzed for satellite cell responses and myogenic potential, protein levels of intracellular signaling proteins, muscle thiols and antioxidant enzyme activity.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • No recent history of musculoskeletal injury
  • Non-smokers.
  • Abstain from any vigorous physical activity during the study
  • Abstain from consumption of caffeine, alcohol, performance-enhancing or antioxidant supplements, NSAIDs and medications before (at least 6 months) and during the study.

Exclusion criteria

  • A known NAC intolerance or allergy
  • A recent febrile illness
  • A recent history of muscle lesion and/or lower limb trauma
  • Presence of metabolic diseases
  • Use of anti-inflammatory medication.
  • Use of medication interacting with muscle metabolism.

Treatment and study plan

N-acetylcysteine

Dietary Supplement

N-Acetylcysteine in a powder form diluted in a 250 ml drink containing 248 ml water and 2 ml of natural, non-caloric, flavoring-sweetener containing sucralose.

Placebo

Dietary Supplement

Placebo consisted of 248 ml water and 2 ml of natural, non-caloric, flavoring-sweetener containing sucralose.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in muscle satellite cells number (i.e. Pax7+ cells) and activation status (i.e. Pax7+/MyoD+ cells)

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Satellite cells number and activation status, will be assessed in muscle via immunohistochemistry.

  2. Change in muscle myogenic mRNA expression

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    mRNA expression levels of Myogenic factor 5 (Myf5), myogenin and Myogenic factor 6 (Myf6/MRF4) and myostatin will be assessed in muscle using Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).

  3. Change in muscle inflammatory state

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Pro-inflammatory (M1+) and anti-inflammatory (M2+) macrophages will be measured in muscle using immunohistochemistry.

  4. Change in intracellular antioxidant enzymes in muscle

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Protein levels of Glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3), Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and Thioredoxin (Trx1) will be measured using western blotting.

  5. Change in muscle thiol content

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Concentration levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) will be measured spectophotometrically.

  6. Change in intracellular signaling proteins in muscle

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Protein levels of IGF-1, Notch1 and Wnt3 will be measured using western blotting.

  7. Change in skeletal muscle damage levels

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Skeletal muscle damage will be quantified via histochemistry using H&E staining.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Resting metabolic rate (RMR)

    Time frame: At baseline

    RMR will be assessed after an overnight fast with participants in a supine position following a 15-min stabilization period by taking 30 consecutive 1-min VO2/CO2 measurements using a portable open-circuit indirect calorimeter with a ventilated hood system following a standard calibration protocol.

  2. Body composition

    Time frame: At baseline

    Body composition will be measured using a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scanner (DXA).

  3. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max)

    Time frame: At baseline

    VO2max will be assessed during continuous incremental running to volitional fatigue on a treadmill with a pulmonary gas exchange system (Oxycon Mobile; Sensor-Medics Corporation).

  4. Isokinetic strength

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Maximal knee extensor eccentric peak torque at 60 degrees will be assessed on an isokinetic dynamometer.

  5. Change in delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS)

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Muscle soreness will assessed during palpation of the muscle belly and the distal region of relaxed vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and rectus femoris following three repetitions of of a full squat. Subjects will rate their DOMS on a visual analogue scale (0-10).

  6. Physical activity

    Time frame: At baseline.

    Level of habitual physical activity will be assessed using accelerometry (ActiGraph GT3X-BT accelerometer).

  7. Dietary intake

    Time frame: At baseline.

    Daily dietary intake will be assessed using 7-day diet recalls.

  8. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in blood

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Concentration of IL-1β will be measured in plasma.

  9. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in blood

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Concentration of IL-6 will be measured in plasma.

  10. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) in blood

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Concentration of IL-6 will be measured in plasma.

  11. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) in blood

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Concentration of IL-10 will be measured in plasma.

  12. Cortisol in blood

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Concentration of cortisol will be measured in serum.

  13. Protein carbonyls (PC)

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Concentration of protein carbonyls will be measured in muscle.

  14. Malondialdehyde (MDA)

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Concentration of malondialdehyde will be measured in muscle.

  15. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC)

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Concentration of TAC will be measured in serum.

  16. Catalase

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Concentration of catalase will be measured in red blood cell lysate.

  17. Creatine Kinase (CK)

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    Concentration of CK will be measured in serum.

  18. White blood cell count in blood

    Time frame: At baseline, before the exercise protocol and at days 2 and 8 following exercise.

    White blood cell count will be measured in blood. White blood cell count will be measured in blood.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Thessaly

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Redox Potential on the Regulation of Satellite Cells and Skeletal Muscle Healing Following Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2022
First posted
Oct 19, 2018
Registry last updated
Nov 20, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.