Abstract
Background/Objectives.
Obesity-associated metabolic dysfunction and inflammation can be ameliorated by bariatric surgery. While obesity is also linked to impaired B cell activation, differentiation, and persistence in response to infection and vaccination little is known about post-operative immune B cell compartment and to what extent dysregulation in B cell pathways can be reversed. To bridge this gap in knowledge, we carried out in-depth evaluation of B cell composition in obese individuals prior to and following bariatric surgery compared to lean controls.
Subjects/Methods.
We recruited individuals with obesity (BMI at least 35 kg/m2) before bariatric surgery (n = 21) and followed them up 6 months post-operatively (n = 17). As controls we recruited age- and sex-matched lean (BMI < 25) individuals (n = 18). We carried out comprehensive immunophenotyping of peripheral blood B cells as well as interrogated their association with inflammatory and metabolic parameters.
Results.
In obesity the balance of antigen-inexperienced and memory B cells in the peripheral blood is altered, with an expansion of naïve and a reduction in total memory B cells. 6 months following bariatric surgery this balance is restored. However, post-operative patients are uniquely characterised by an increase in B cell subsets associated with chronic inflammation – CD11c+CXCR5−IgD−CD27− double negative 2 (DN2) B cells and CD27+CD38++ plasmablasts. Correlations between B cells subsets, inflammatory and metabolic parameters were distinct in lean and obese individuals pre- and post-bariatric surgery.
Conclusions.
Bariatric surgery patients display a unique B cell profile 6 months post-operatively; this bears minimal resemblance to that of pre-operative patients and only partially overlaps with that of lean controls. Post-operative differences in the B cell compartment compared to lean controls are detected despite global amelioration of inflammation and restoration of metabolic health. Collectively, this indicates that bariatric surgery creates a specific immunometabolic state with potential implications for health outcomes.
Obesity-associated metabolic dysfunction and inflammation can be ameliorated by bariatric surgery. While obesity is also linked to impaired B cell activation, differentiation, and persistence in response to infection and vaccination little is known about post-operative immune B cell compartment and to what extent dysregulation in B cell pathways can be reversed. To bridge this gap in knowledge, we carried out in-depth evaluation of B cell composition in obese individuals prior to and following bariatric surgery compared to lean controls.
Subjects/Methods.
We recruited individuals with obesity (BMI at least 35 kg/m2) before bariatric surgery (n = 21) and followed them up 6 months post-operatively (n = 17). As controls we recruited age- and sex-matched lean (BMI < 25) individuals (n = 18). We carried out comprehensive immunophenotyping of peripheral blood B cells as well as interrogated their association with inflammatory and metabolic parameters.
Results.
In obesity the balance of antigen-inexperienced and memory B cells in the peripheral blood is altered, with an expansion of naïve and a reduction in total memory B cells. 6 months following bariatric surgery this balance is restored. However, post-operative patients are uniquely characterised by an increase in B cell subsets associated with chronic inflammation – CD11c+CXCR5−IgD−CD27− double negative 2 (DN2) B cells and CD27+CD38++ plasmablasts. Correlations between B cells subsets, inflammatory and metabolic parameters were distinct in lean and obese individuals pre- and post-bariatric surgery.
Conclusions.
Bariatric surgery patients display a unique B cell profile 6 months post-operatively; this bears minimal resemblance to that of pre-operative patients and only partially overlaps with that of lean controls. Post-operative differences in the B cell compartment compared to lean controls are detected despite global amelioration of inflammation and restoration of metabolic health. Collectively, this indicates that bariatric surgery creates a specific immunometabolic state with potential implications for health outcomes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | International Journal of Obesity |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Submitted - 20 Dec 2022 |
Field of Science*
- 3.1 Basic medicine
Publication Type*
- 6. Other publications
