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T and B Cell Composition and Cytokine Producing Capacity Before and After Bariatric Surgery
L H Wijngaarden1,2, A E Taselaar1,2, F Nuijten1
1Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC, Erasmus MC Transplant Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Frontiers in Immunology
|July 21, 2022
Summary
Morbid obesity alters T and B cell profiles, impacting immune function. Bariatric surgery partially restores B cell composition but not cytokine production capacity in T and B cells within three months.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Metabolic Disorders
- Surgical Science
Background:
- Morbid obesity is linked to chronic low-grade inflammation.
- This inflammation accelerates T and B cell differentiation, increasing cytotoxicity and pro-inflammatory cytokine production while decreasing anti-inflammatory functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of morbid obesity on T and B cell subsets and their cytokine production.
- To assess the effects of bariatric surgery on these immune parameters.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to analyze peripheral blood T and B cell subsets and cytokine production.
- 23 morbidly obese patients (pre- and post-bariatric surgery) and 25 lean controls were studied.
Main Results:
- Morbidly obese patients exhibited a more differentiated T cell subset profile compared to lean controls, which persisted three months post-surgery.
- B cell composition normalized towards lean controls after bariatric surgery.
- However, the cytokine producing capacity of CD8+ T cells (IL-2, IFN-γ) and B cells (IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10) remained impaired three months post-surgery.
Conclusions:
- Bariatric surgery can restore immune cell composition in morbid obesity within three months.
- The recovery of immune cell cytokine producing capacity is delayed, suggesting a longer timeframe for full immune system restoration.
