Maynooth University researchers discover bariatric surgery reverses immune cell damage caused by obesity
Bariatric surgery reverses immune cell damage caused by obesity, according to a study published in JCI Insight and reported by imt.ie. Researchers at Maynooth University found that specific immune cells lose their metabolic function in people with obesity, leaving the body with less energy to fight infections and cancer. The findings help explain why patients who undergo weight-loss procedures experience a 40 to 50 percent lower chance of developing cancer and other obesity complications, as imt.ie reported.
Vδ2+ T cell defects and immune system vulnerabilities
Scientists in the Department of Biology at Maynooth University focused their research on gamma delta (γδ) T cells, specifically a specialized subset known as Vδ2+ T cells, which form part of the body’s first line of defense against pathogens and abnormal cells. Led by Dr Ciara Flynn at the Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, the study found that individuals living with obesity have fewer Vδ2+ T cells in their blood circulation. Furthermore, those cells display reduced activity when stimulated and exhibit structural abnormalities in the cellular processes controlling nutrient uptake and energy production. These metabolic disruptions deprive the immune system of the necessary fuel to mount an effective response against viral and bacterial threats, accounting for the heightened vulnerability observed during public health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where more than one billion adults worldwide living with obesity faced increased risks of severe illness.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass restores immune defense mechanisms
The research team discovered that performing a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) on patients with obesity successfully reverses these cellular defects. Post-surgery evaluations showed significant metabolic improvements in how immune cells generate energy, alongside a marked recovery in the cells’ operational responsiveness. Prof Andrew Hogan, Principal Investigator with the Obesity Immunology Research Group at Maynooth University, stated that the research provides vital insight into the link between obesity and immune dysfunction. Prof Helen Heneghan, a consultant bariatric surgeon at St Vincent’s University Hospital who collaborated on the study alongside Prof Donal O’Shea at University College Dublin, noted that successful treatment through RYGB surgery effectively restores the body’s natural defenses against infections and malignancies.
Translational research implications and future outlook
Prof Paul Moynagh, Director of the Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research at Maynooth University, described the project as an example of impactful translational research uniting scientific inquiry with clinical expertise. The study was published under the title “Defective Vδ2+ T cell metabolic and functional responses in obesity are reversed with bariatric surgery” in JCI Insight. These documented cellular recoveries provide a clear biological mechanism for the substantially reduced rates of cancer and metabolic complications observed in clinical follow-ups of post-bariatric surgery patients.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific immune cells does obesity damage?
Obesity damages gamma delta (γδ) T cells, focusing particularly on a subset called Vδ2+ T cells that act as an early defense against infections and cancer cells.
Which surgical procedure was evaluated in the Maynooth University study?
The research evaluated Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, finding it successfully reverses the metabolic and functional defects found in immune cells of patients with obesity.
How much do bariatric surgery patients reduce their cancer risk?
Patients who undergo bariatric surgery have a 40 to 50 percent lower chance of developing cancer and other obesity-related complications.
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