A scientific study conducted by researchers from Maynooth University in Ireland, in collaboration with medical and academic institutions, showed that gastric bypass surgery can help restore the functions of immune cells affected by obesity, improving their ability to respond to infections and recognize certain cancer cells.
The scientific website Medical Xpress reported the day before yesterday that the study, published in the journal JCI Insight, focused on a specialized type of immune cells known as Vδ2+ T cells, which play a role in defending the body against certain types of infections, as well as helping to recognize and attack specific cancer cells.
The results showed that obese individuals have lower numbers of these cells in their blood, as well as reduced activity when stimulated, due to disruptions in the biological processes responsible for nutrient absorption and producing the energy needed for their immune functions.
The study demonstrated that these disruptions improved after patients underwent gastric bypass surgery, as the cells regained a significant part of their functional capacity, coinciding with improvements in metabolic processes that support their activity and response to health threats.
Researcher Ciara Flynn, who led the study, explained that the results contribute to explaining the reasons behind the link between obesity and an increased risk of serious complications from certain types of infections, as well as clarifying how obesity treatment can reflect on specific functions of the immune system.
Researchers and doctors from St. Vincent’s University Hospital and University College Dublin participated in the study, along with researchers from other academic institutions in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
The results highlight the relationship between metabolic health and immune system efficiency, emphasizing the importance of continuing research to understand the impact of obesity treatments on the body's ability to resist diseases, without implying that surgery guarantees prevention of infection or cancer.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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