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Beta-Blocker Influences on Inflammatory and Neural Responses to Stress

This study is looking at how a medicine called Propranolol affects your body's response to stress, specifically how it changes inflammation and brain activity. Researchers want to understand if blocking certain stress signals can help reduce the risk of heart disease. You might be able to join if you are between 18 and 30 years old, right-handed, fluent in English, and have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 35 or less. The study will measure changes in specific inflammation markers (interleukin-6 and inflammatory gene expression) after a stress task to see if Propranolol has an effect. The current status of this study is unclear, and it plans to enroll 120 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study that will compare Propranolol to a placebo (a sugar pill that looks identical to the drug). It plans to enroll 120 participants.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The study measures changes in inflammation up to 90 minutes after a stress task.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06263452

Beta-Blocker Influences on Inflammatory and Neural Responses to Stress

Recruiting
PHASE4Ages 18–30InterventionalBasic science
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
~120 participants
Updated 2025-10-29 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:PropranololPlacebo

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 in response to social stress
Measured over Post-drug baseline to 90-minutes post-stress task (T-90)
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Cardiovascular Disease

Explore related trials

Healthy

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
North Carolina1

Study leadership

  • Keely Muscatell, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Who to contact

Jonathan Bunting, BS
[email protected]
9164957661
Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Ages 18-30 years
Right-handed
Fluent in English reading, writing, and speaking at least at a 10th grade level
Body mass index (BMI) less than or equal to 35 kg/m\^2

Exclusion

Non-removeable metal devices/implants/objects in the body
Severe claustrophobia (assessed by self-report)
Currently pregnant
Left-handed
Body mass index (BMI) greater than 35 kg/m\^2
History of fainting spells or any heart condition
History of or present low resting heart rate (\< 60 BPM) and/or low blood pressure (systolic blood pressure \< 80mmHg)
Self-reported physical illnesses: diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, inflammatory bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, autoimmune disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, lupus
Any self-reported diagnosed mental illness
Current use of prescription medications (except hormonal contraceptives)
Current or recent regular nicotine/tobacco use (cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vape, chewing tobacco, nicotine gum)
Current regular (daily or almost daily) recreational drug use = 4 or more times per week
Received any vaccine within the past two weeks
Severe sleep disturbance (3-4 hours of sleep loss) the night before Session II
Vigorous physical activity on the day of Session II
Acute illness or allergy symptoms on the day of Session II
Usage of over-the-counter medications on the day of Session II
Usage of recreational drugs within 48 hours of Session II
Usage of alcohol on the day of Session II

What this trial measures

  • Change in levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 in response to social stressPost-drug baseline to 90-minutes post-stress task (T-90)

    Blood plasma will be analyzed for levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), from baseline, a baseline after drug administration, a sample 90-minutes after the stress task (T-90) measured in pg/mL. The timeline was determined on meta-analytic work showing changes in the inflammatory cytokine IL-6 are largest at 90 minutes post-stress.

  • Change in levels of inflammatory gene expression in response to social stressPost-drug baseline to 30-minutes post-stress task (T-30)

    Whole blood samples will be collected in PaxGene tubes and analyzed for changes in inflammatory gene expression from baseline, a baseline after drug administration, and 30-minutes after the stress task (T-30), measured in gene transcript counts per million. The timeline is based on the Principal Investigator's work showing that changes in pro-inflammatory gene expression are observed 30-minutes post-stress.