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Alterations in peripheral CD4+ T cell subsets and their association with metabolic markers in obese children
Reiko Saito1, Jun Hirakawa1, Mami Kuwamura1
1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
Insights
Childhood obesity alters T cell populations, with lower CD4+ T cells and higher regulatory T cells observed. These immune changes in obese children differ from adults and depend on obesity duration.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Childhood obesity is linked to chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation, potentially increasing adult obesity risk.
- Research on the immune system in obese children is limited, necessitating further investigation.
- Understanding immune alterations in pediatric obesity is crucial for long-term health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in obese children.
- To examine the association between these lymphocyte subpopulations and metabolic markers.
- To compare immune profiles in obese children with non-obese controls.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study design involving 30 obese children and 22 age-matched non-obese controls.
- Comparison of peripheral blood lymphocyte populations between obese and non-obese groups.
- Assessment of factors influencing lymphocyte subpopulations within the obese cohort.
Main Results:
- Obese children showed significantly lower proportions of CD4+ T cells and lower naïve to memory CD4+ T cell ratios compared to controls.
- Regulatory T (Treg) cell counts were significantly higher in obese children.
- Treg cell proportions correlated negatively with insulin and positively with blood glucose levels.
Conclusions:
- Childhood obesity significantly impacts immune dysregulation, specifically affecting T cell subpopulations.
- Observed T cell changes in obese children differ from those in obese adults.
- The duration of obesity influences the observed immune alterations in children.
Introduction:
Childhood obesity may elevate the risk for adult obesity because of chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation; however, studies on the immune system in obese children are limited. This study aimed to investigate peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in obese children and their association with metabolic markers.
Methods:
This prospective study included 30 obese children (median age: 11.5 years) and 22 age-matched non-obese controls. Lymphocyte populations were compared between the two groups. Additionally, factors influencing these populations were assessed in the obese group.
Results:
The proportion of CD4+ T cells and the ratio of naïve to memory CD4+ T cells were significantly lower in obese children than in non-obese children (P = 0.006 and P = 0.035, respectively). Regulatory T (Treg) cell counts were significantly higher in obese children than in non-obese children (P = 0.049). The proportion of CD4+ memory T cells positively correlated with serum alanine aminotransferase levels. The proportion of Tregs was negatively correlated with serum insulin levels and positively correlated with blood glucose levels. The number of CD4+ T cells and the ratio of naïve to memory CD4+ T cells were lower in obese children with a disease duration of <5 years compared to that in non-obese children. However, obese children with a disease duration of ≥5 years had a high number of CD4+ T cells.
Conclusions:
This study highlights the impact of childhood obesity on immune dysregulation. The changes in T cell subpopulations in obese children differ from those observed in obese adults and vary depend on the duration of obesity.
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