Weight-Loss Surgery May Help Immune Cells Recover From Obesity Effects
A Maynooth University team found that obesity reduces the number and responsiveness of gamma delta T cells, particularly Vδ2+ cells, and disrupts their nutrient and energy metabolism. In patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, many of these immune-cell abnormalities improved, with the cells responding better to threats. The work was published in JCI Insight.
Obesity affects over a billion adults globally and has been tied to worse outcomes from bacterial and viral infections, including COVID-19. The Maynooth-led team focused on gamma delta T cells, especially Vδ2+ cells, which act early against infection and some cancers.
In people with obesity, these cells were scarcer and reacted less strongly when stimulated; their nutrient handling and energy production also looked abnormal. After Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, many of these metabolic and functional problems improved, with cells responding better. The work involved St Vincent’s University Hospital and University College Dublin and appeared in JCI Insight.
The findings could matter most to people living with obesity, especially those considering or recovering from bariatric surgery, and to clinicians assessing infection and cancer risk. If the immune improvements are confirmed, they may help explain why some patients fare better after surgery and could support more personalized discussions about treatment. Broader society may benefit from clearer evidence linking obesity treatment to immune health, though the study’s clinical implications are still being established.