Heat Intolerance- A Lesson From Global Genomic Response in Lymphocytes

NCT ID: NCT00918359

Last Updated: 2011-06-29

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Total Enrollment: 50 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2009-05-31

Brief Summary

Heat Intolerance (HI) is a life threatening deficiency that can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke (and possibly death) in a large number of military and civilian occupational groups. We have demonstrated malfunction of transcriptional pathways in the heat stressed HI phenotype and an altered gene expression profile compared to Heat Tolerant (HT) individuals. Such differences are evident even under normothermic basal/comfort conditions. Heat and exercise challenges during the heat tolerance test (HTT) further emphasize the differences between the groups, particularly during recovery at comfort temperatures. Our results indicate that it may be possible to identify markers of heat intolerance. To achieve this goal, we plan to design a cellular (lymphocyte) HTT experimental model and detect gene expression profiles using customized DNA microarrays and bioinformatic tools (the genes selected will be based on our previous DNA microarray studies). Lymphocyte samples collected from HT and HI individuals under resting/comfort conditions will be examined. Treatments and analyses are designed to reveal HI-associated gene-expression profiles (constitutive or inducible), and thereby find lymphocyte markers to identify individuals predisposed to heat injury. The identification of such subjects could prevent unnecessary loss of life. Notably, the rapidly changing climate in our era increases the number of occupation/age groups in which manifestations of HI will appear.

Conditions

Heat Intolerance; Genotypic Variations; Gene Expression; Genomic Markers for Predisposition of Heat Intolerance

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: CASE_ONLY
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

HI

Subjects who experienced heat exhaustion or heat stroke in their past and will be identified by heat tolerance test (HTT) as Heat Intolerance .

No interventions assigned to this group

HT

Subjects who experienced heat exhaustion or heat stroke in their past and will be identified by heat tolerance test (HTT) as Heat Tolerance .

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Experienced heat exhaustion or heat stroke in their past
• Participating in heat tolerance tests (HTT)

Exclusion Criteria

• Unambiguous result of the HTT
• HTT stop by the subject decision

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 45 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Medical Corps, Israel Defense Force

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Medical Corps, Israel Defense Force

Locations

Heller Institute of Medical Research

Ramat Gan, , Israel

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Israel

Central Contacts

Chen Makranz, Dr

Role: CONTACT

chenma@sheba.health.gov.il

03-7376584

Other Identifiers

782-2008-IDF-CTIL

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id