Increased plasmatic NETs by-products in patients in severe obesity

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Cardiovascular Disease

Background:

• Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are DNA-based structures involved in immune responses.
• Obesity is linked to chronic low-grade inflammation and neutrophil activation, but its role in NET formation is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate NET levels in morbidly obese individuals compared to healthy controls.
• To analyze the association between NETs and anthropometric/glyco-metabolic parameters.
• To evaluate changes in NETs following bariatric surgery.

Main Methods:

• Enrollment of 73 morbidly obese patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy, alongside healthy and coronary artery disease controls.
• Assessment of anthropometric, blood pressure, and biochemical parameters pre- and post-surgery (12 months).
• Quantification of plasma MPO-DNA complexes (NETs) using ELISA.

Main Results:

• NETs levels were significantly higher in obese patients (p < 0.001) and correlated with BMI, waist/hip circumference, glyco-metabolic variables, and systolic blood pressure.
• Post-surgery, NET reduction correlated with decreased BMI, visceral fat, and glycemia.
• Increased NETs post-surgery were associated with a history of thromboembolic events.

Conclusions:

• Severe obesity is associated with elevated NET production, potentially exacerbating systemic inflammation.
• Bariatric surgery-induced weight loss does not consistently normalize NET production.
• Persistent high NET levels after surgery may identify patients at higher cardiovascular risk.