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Early pathogenesis of atherosclerosis: the childhood obesity
Luigi Amati1, Marisa Chiloiro, Emilio Jirillo
1IRCCS S. De Bellis, Castellana Grotte (Bari), Italy. amati_luigi@libero.it
Insights
Childhood obesity, a state of chronic inflammation, improves with a hypocaloric diet. Weight loss normalizes immune status, increasing CD4+ cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio, while reducing leptin levels.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Obesity is linked to chronic inflammation, with adipocytes releasing inflammatory cytokines and adipokines like leptin.
- Leptin possesses immunomodulating and systemic activities, and its levels are altered in obesity.
- Weight reduction in obese individuals has been shown to normalize inflammatory mediators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of a six-month hypocaloric diet on the immune status of obese children.
- To correlate biochemical and anthropometric changes with immune system normalization in pediatric obesity.
- To explore the role of leptin in modulating immune responses within the context of childhood obesity.
Main Methods:
- Obese children were subjected to a six-month hypocaloric diet.
- Biochemical and anthropometric parameters were monitored.
- Immune status was assessed, including absolute counts of CD4+ cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio.
- Leptin levels were measured throughout the study.
Main Results:
- A reduction in major biochemical and anthropometric parameters was observed.
- The hypocaloric diet correlated with a normalization of immune status.
- Absolute numbers of CD4+ cells and the CD4/CD8 ratio increased.
- Leptin values fluctuated within normal ranges, indicating its involvement in immune response modulation.
Conclusions:
- Childhood obesity is associated with immune abnormalities and an increased risk of infections.
- Diet-induced weight reduction can normalize immune status in obese children.
- Preventing or reducing childhood obesity is crucial to mitigate long-term health complications.
Abstract:
Obesity represents a chronic inflammatory status and adipocytes release either cytokines or an array of adipokines such as leptin, endowed with immunomodulating and systemic activities. The involvement of cytokines in obesity as well as of the adipokine leptin is supported by the notion that weight reduction normalizes mediators of inflammation. In this framework, we will demonstrate that in obese children, subjected for a period of six months to a hypocaloric diet, reduction of major biochemical and anthropometric parameters correlates with a normalization of immune status. In fact, absolute numbers of CD4+ cells and CD4/CD8 ratio increase, while leptin values fluctuate within normal ranges, being this adipokine involved in the modulation of either innate or adaptive immune responses. In the discussion, the immune abnormalities detected in obesity will be pointed out and emphasis will be placed on the increased frequency of infectious episodes occurring in obese adolescent and adults. Finally, the infectious etiology of obesity will be illustrated in the sense that adipocytes interacting with infectious agents may cause obesity. Taken together, the bulk of available data indicate that childhood obesity should be prevented or reduced to avoid more serious complications in adulthood.
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