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Title: Lack of differences in inflammation and T cell-mediated function between young and older women with obesity

Author
item DAO, MARIA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item SALTZMAN, EDWARD - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item PAGE, MELISSA - Tufts Medical Center
item REECE, JILLIAN - Tufts Medical Center
item MOJTAHED, TARA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item WU, DAYONG - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item MEYDANI, SIMIN - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University

Submitted to: Nutrients
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/13/2020
Publication Date: 1/16/2020
Citation: Dao, M.C., Saltzman, E., Page, M., Reece, J., Mojtahed, T., Wu, D., Meydani, S.N. 2020. Lack of differences in inflammation and T cell-mediated function between young and older women with obesity. Nutrients. 12(1):237. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010237.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010237

Interpretive Summary: The immune response becomes impaired with aging. Obesity may also be detrimental to the immune system, but there is little evidence on the added burden of obesity in older adults. In this study, we compared several markers of immune response between young and older obese women. We found no difference in these markers, specifically when comparing types of immune cells, or their potential to be activated, between the two groups. The fact that immunity in obese young women is not better than in obese older women suggests that obesity may be inducing an early impairment of the immune response. These measurements were made at one point in time, and future studies are needed that carry out these measurements throughout time and include lean groups for comparison. This research is important given the growing prevalence of obesity in both young and elderly populations worldwide.

Technical Abstract: Objectives: Both obesity and aging are associated with dysregulated immune and inflammatory responses. There is limited knowledge, however, on differences in the immune system between young and older adults who are obese. The goal of this pilot study was to compare circulating inflammatory cytokines and T cell-mediated immune response between young and older obese women. Subjects were 23 young (23-43y) and 21 older (60-83y) obese women recruited at the Weight and Wellness Center at Tufts Medical Center. Circulating inflammatory cytokines (CRP, IL-6, and IL-1beta) and ex vivo indicators of T cell-mediated immune function were compared between the groups. Results: Older obese women had significantly fewer circulating CD3+, CD8+, CD19+ and NKT cells compared to young obese women (p = 0.016, p < 0.0001, p = 0.0003, and p < 0.0001, respectively). However, with few exceptions, there was no significant difference in inflammation markers or stimulated lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells between young and older obese participants. Conclusion: Older women with obesity have comparable markers of inflammation and T cell-mediated immune response to young women with obesity, suggesting that obesity is a more dominant cause of premature aging of the immune system than chronological years.