Adenosine 2A Receptor Antagonism and AIH in ALS

Summary

The purpose of this research study is to determine the effects of a medication, istradefylline, in conjunction with breathing air with reduced oxygen for short periods of time (called acute intermittent hypoxia, or AIH), on breathing. This project will study breathing in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and unaffected, age-matched adults. Istradefylline is prescribed to increase movement in people with other neuromuscular conditions. A recently completed study found that people with ALS took deeper breaths, 60 minutes after using AIH.

Timeline

Start

2022-06-21

Primary completion

2026-01-26

Completion

2026-08-31

Publications

• Background Trumbower RD, Jayaraman A, Mitchell GS, Rymer WZ. Exposure to acute intermittent hypoxia augments somatic motor function in humans with incomplete spinal cord injury. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2012 Feb;26(2):163-72. doi: 10.1177/1545968311412055. Epub 2011 Aug 5.
• Background Vivodtzev I, Tan AQ, Hermann M, Jayaraman A, Stahl V, Rymer WZ, Mitchell GS, Hayes HB, Trumbower RD. Mild to Moderate Sleep Apnea Is Linked to Hypoxia-induced Motor Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2020 Sep 15;202(6):887-890. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202002-0245LE. No abstract available.
• Background Seven YB, Simon AK, Sajjadi E, Zwick A, Satriotomo I, Mitchell GS. Adenosine 2A receptor inhibition protects phrenic motor neurons from cell death induced by protein synthesis inhibition. Exp Neurol. 2020 Jan;323:113067. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2019.113067. Epub 2019 Oct 17.
• Background Sajjadi E, Seven YB, Ehrbar JG, Wymer JP, Mitchell GS, Smith BK. Acute intermittent hypoxia and respiratory muscle recruitment in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A preliminary study. Exp Neurol. 2022 Jan;347:113890. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113890. Epub 2021 Oct 6.
• Sales de Campos P, Smith-Hublou M, Olsen WL, Souza Leite W, Wymer JP, Napoli NJ, Vose AK, Pulley MT, Mitchell GS, Smith BK. Acute Adenosine Receptor Antagonism in Combination With Acute Intermittent Hypoxia to Promote Breathing Plasticity in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Nov 7;14:e76105. doi: 10.2196/76105.

Drugs

Indications