Obesity Influences T CD4 Lymphocytes Subsets Profiles in Children and Adolescent's Immune Response

Abstract

Background: Evidence shows that CD4⁺ T cells are altered in obesity and play a significant role in the systemic inflammation in adults with the disease.

Objectives: Because the profile of these cells is poorly understood in the pediatric population, this study aims to investigate the profile of CD4⁺ T lymphocytes and the plasma levels of cytokines in this population.

Methods: Using flow cytometry, we compared the expression profile of lymphocyte markers, master transcription factors, cytokines, and molecules involved in the regulation of the immune response in CD4⁺ T cells from children and adolescents with obesity (OB group, n = 20) with those with eutrophy group (EU group, n = 16). Plasma levels of cytokines in both groups were determined by cytometric bead array (CBA).

Results: The OB group presents a lower frequency of CD3⁺ T cells, as well as a decreased frequency of CD4⁺ T cells expressing CD28, IL-4, and FOXP3, but an increased frequency of CD4⁺IL-17A⁺ cells compared with the EU group. The frequency of CD28 is increased in Th2 and Treg cells in the OB group, whereas CTLA-4 is decreased in all subpopulations compared with the EU group. Furthermore, Th2, Th17, and Treg profiles can differentiate the EU and OB groups. IL-10 plasma levels are reduced in the OB group and negatively correlated with adiposity and inflammatory parameters.

Conclusions: CD4⁺ T cells have an altered pattern of expression in children and adolescents with obesity, contributing to the inflammatory state and clinical characteristics of these patients.

Keywords: CD28; CD4(+) T cells; CTLA-4; childhood obesity; cytokines.