Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria * BMI ≤40 kg/m2 * Not a current smoker or tobacco user * Individuals with treated hypertension, prehypertension, and dyslipidemia will be allowed to participate in the study * On no prescription medications other than those medications used to treat asthma, seasonal or environmental allergies (such as Cetirizine, Fexofenadine, Desloratadine, Loratadine, etc), depression, acid reflux (such as antacids or proton pump inhibitors), topical skin treatment medications or shampoos, contraceptive pills, or intrauterine devices. Other medications may be allowed at the discretion of the study staff. * Not pregnant or breast feeding and not intending to become pregnant or breast feed * Ability to provide written informed consent * If a subject is on aspirin or any other anti-inflammatory medication but free of known vascular disease and depending on the indication, the study doctor may ask the subject to suspend aspirin or anti-inflammatory therapy for 7 days prior to participation in the study. In the event that the subject does not stop the aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medication, they will not be able to participate in the study because of the risk of bleeding during the fat biopsy. Exclusion Criteria * Vulnerable study population will be excluded * Presence of chronic kidney disease (creatinine \>2.5 mg/dL) and/or active cancers * Pregnancy * Anemic (hemoglobin \<12 g/dL for men and \<11 g/dL for women) * Smoking * Use of chronic medications (statins, anti-inflammatory drugs, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) and/or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors) * Blood or plasma donation during the past 2 months