Obesity leaves a lasting memory in immune cells
Obesity appears to leave a molecular imprint on key immune cells that may persist for 5 to 10 years after weight loss. This long-lasting “obesity memory” could help explain why some obesity-related health risks remain elevated even after body weight returns to normal.
A 10-year study published in EMBO Reports reveals that obesity may leave a lasting molecular memory in immune cells, potentially increasing health risks for years after weight loss. Professor Claudio Mauro and his team at the University of Birmingham found that helper T cells (CD4+ lymphocytes) retain signs of past obesity long after body weight reduction.
This change, caused by DNA methylation, may persist for 5-10 years. The lasting "obesity memory" in T cells could disrupt normal immune functions, including cellular waste removal and immune aging regulation, potentially explaining why weight loss does not immediately reduce obesity-related disease risks. To investigate, researchers analyzed immune cells from obese individuals, high-fat diet mice, and healthy human blood donations.
While short-term weight loss may not immediately reduce disease risks such as type 2 diabetes and some cancers, sustained weight loss maintenance for 5-10 years could gradually reverse these effects. The study also suggests potential therapies, like repurposing SGLT2 inhibitors, to expedite this process.
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