Obesity and immunocompetence

Abstract

The increasing worldwide prevalence of obesity is a major health problem since excessive body weight constitutes a risk factor in a number of chronic diseases. It has been reported that obese individuals are more susceptible to infection than lean subjects; however, the underlying factors are not fully understood. Limited and often controversial information exists comparing immunocompetence in obese and nonobese subjects as well as the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved, although much evidence supports a link between adipose tissue metabolism and immunocompetent cell functions. The complexity and heterogeneity of nutritional status and immune system interactions require an integral study of the immunocompetent cells, their subsets and products, as well as specific and non-specific inducer=regulatory systems in situations of human obesity. Additional research is needed to determine the clinical implications of these alterations on immunity and whether various interventions such as weight loss, exercise or nutrient supplementation could help to ameliorate them.

Systems vaccinology: Probing humanity’s diverse immune systems with vaccines

“…Therefore, it is the intricate interplay between these variables that results in a particular metabolic state, and a key question is how immunity to vaccination is affected by such metabolic states. There are several studies documenting impaired immune responses associated with obesity (69,70) and undernutrition (71)(72)(73). Systems vaccinology offers a promising way to dissect the molecular mechanisms that result in impaired vaccine immunity in such abnormal conditions.…”

Obesity and kidney disease: hidden consequences of the epidemic

“…I n s u l i n r e s i s t a nc e, a nd t h e co ns eq u en t c hr on i c hyperinsulinemia and increased production of insulin-like growth factor 1 and numerous complex secondary humoral effects may exert stimulating effects on the growth of various types of tumor cells [56]. More recently, the endocrine functions of adipose tissue [57], its effects on immunity [58] and the generation of an inflammatory milieu with complex effects on cancers [59,60] have emerged as additional explanations.…”

High Body Mass Has No Effect on Cellular and Innate Immunity in Siberian Hamsters (<i>Phodopus sungorus</i>)

“…Furthermore, the percentage of obesity caused by genetic deficiency is small [11]. Therefore, wild overweight or obese rodents perhaps are potential model to examine the impact of obesity on immunity independently of the confounding heterogeneity in human [10]. To date, however, little information is available about how obesity or overweight affects immune function in wild rodents.…”

“…It is also considered to be related with increased susceptibility to infections [6,7]. The mechanism may be due to the changes of immune responses in obesity [8][9][10].…”

“…The major problem in understanding the influence of overweight or obesity on immunity in human is that the obese population is too heterogeneous in various aspects, including dietary patterns, individual microbial and social environments [10]. Furthermore, the percentage of obesity caused by genetic deficiency is small [11].…”