The Correlation between the Body Mass Index and the Humoral Immune Response

(Rojan G.M. Al-Allaff)

---

Abstract

A limited number of studies have been carried out on the effect of obesity on the humoral immune system. Previous surveys showed that obesity in people and animals is associated with impaired immune function, specifically cell-mediated immunity. The aim of the current study is to compare the immunoglobulin concentrations among obese individuals in relation to their BMI and contrast them with normal values of non-obese individuals. This includes computing the correlation coefficient using a mathematical equation that measures the connection between immunoglobulins IgG, IgM and IgA, and BMI. To achieve these objectives, the study was carried out on 40 obese people (16 women and 24 men), aged between 20–45 years old, weighing between 85–129Kg and with heights between 154–188cm. All participants had a BMI between 35–44. The immunoglobulins values were obtained by using the radial immunodiffusion assay (Mancini method). The results showed a significant decrease in the levels of IgG, IgM, and IgA in obese individuals compared to non-obese individuals. Additionally, there was no correlation between BMI and IgG or IgM concentrations. Conversely, a correlation between BMI and IgA concentrations was observed. Moreover, the study succeeded in deriving a simple linear regression equation depending on the correlation coefficient. By using the SPSS 23 statistical analysis program, this equation allowed the researcher to calculate the concentration of IgA mathematically depending on the BMI value only. To the best of the researcher’s knowledge. this research is considered the first of its kind in calculating IgA concentration depending on BMI value with no need to conduct the examination by using mathematical equation. The study concluded that obese people suffer from a deficiency in the humoral specific factors, which is probably reflected in the effectiveness of the humoral immune response to infectious agents and the appearance of autoantibodies in obese individuals when compared to non-obese individuals.

KEYWORDS
BMI, correlation coefficient, IgG, IgM, IgA

PDF

References

Al-Sufyani, A.A. and Mahassni, S.H. (2010). Obesity and immune cells in Saudi females. Innate Immunity, 17(5), 439–50. 
 Andersen, C.J, K.E., and, M.L. (2016). Impact of obesity and metabolic syndrome on immunity. Advances in Nutrition, 7(1),66–75. 
 Gómez-Hernández, A., Beneit, N., Díaz-Castroverde, S. and, O. (2016). Differential Role of adipose tissues in obesity and related metabolic and vascular complications. International Journal of Endocrinology, s1216783. doi: 10.1155/2016/1216783. 
Green, W.D., and Beck, M.A. (2017). Obesity impairs the adaptive immune response to influenza virus. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 14(5), S406–9.
 Houjeghani, S., , B. and , L. (2012). Serum leptin and ghrelin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: Correlation with anthropometric, metabolic, and endocrine parameters. International Journal of Fertility Sterility, 6(2), 117–26. 
Hruby, A. and Hu, F.B. (2015). The epidemiology of obesity: A big picture. Pharmaco Economics, 33(7), 673–89.
Jih, J., Mukherjea, A., Vittinghoff, E., Nguyen, T. T., Tsoh, J. Y., Fukuoka, Y. and Kanaya, A. M. (2014). Using appropriate body mass index cut points for overweight and obesity among Asian Americans. Preventive Medicine, 65(n/a), 1–6.
Kelly, T. Yang, W. Chen, C.S., Reynolds, K. and He, J. (2008). Global burden of obesity in 2005 and projections to 2030. International Journal of Obesity, 32(9), 1431–7.
Lumeng, C.N. and Saltiel, A.R. (2011). Inflammatory links between obesity and metabolic disease. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 121(6), 2111–7.
Martí, A., Marcos, A. and Martínez, J.A. (2001). Obesity and immune function relationships. The International Association for the Study of Obesity, 2(2), 131–40.
Marzullo, P., Minocci, A., Giarda, P., Marconi, C., Tagliaferri, A., Walker, G.E., Scacchi. M., Aimaretti, G. and Liuzzi, A. (2014). Lymphocytes and immunoglobulin patterns across the threshold of severe obesity. Endocrine, 45(3), 392–400.
McLaughlin, T., Liu L., Cindy Lamendola, C., Shen, L., John Morton, J., Homero Rivas, H., Winer, D., Tolentino, L., Okmi Choi, O., Hong Zhang, H., Chng, M.H.Y. and Engleman, E. (2014). T cell profile in adipose tissue is associated with insulin resistance and systemic inflammation in humans. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 34(12), 2637–43.
Mehta, G., Ramirez, G., Ye, S., McGeady, C. and Chang Alfred, I. (2012). Correlation between IgG, IgA, IgM and BMI or race in a large paediatric population. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 129(2), AB85.
Nielsen, H.B., Secher, N.H., Kappel, M., Hanel, B. and Pedersen, BK. (1996). Lymphocyte, NK and LAK cell responses to maximal exercise. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 17(1), 60–5.
O’Shea, D.M, Cawood, T.J., O’Farrelly, C. and Lynch, L. (2010). Natural killer cells in obesity: Impaired function and increased susceptibility to the effects of cigarette smoke. PLoS One, 5(1), e8660. 
Samartin, S., and Chandra, R.K. (2001). Obesity, over nutrition and the immune system. Nutrition Research, 21(1–2), 243–62.
Schienkiewitz, A., Damerow, S., Mauz, E, Vogelgesang, F., Kuhnert, R. and Rosario, A.S. (2018). Development of overweight and obesity in children. Results of the KiGGS cohort. Journal of Health Monitoring, 3(1), 72–7. 
Schrijnders, D., S.H., N., Vissers, P.A.J., Johnson, J.A., H.J.G., Bockde, G.H., Gijs, W. D. and Landman, G.W.D. (2018). Sex differences in obesity related cancer incidence in relation to type 2 diabetes diagnosis (ZODIAC-49). PLoS One, 13(1), e0190870. 
Silver, M. (2015). Obesity as a public health issue and the effects of amino acid supplementation as a prevention mechanism. Journal of Obesity and Weight Loss Therapy, 5(251), 1–5.
Stites, D.P., Terr, A.I., and Parslow, T.G. (1994). Basic and Clinical Immunology. 8th edition. USA: Lange Medical Publications.
Yosipovitch, G., DeVore, A. and Dawn, A. (2007). Obesity and the skin: Skin physiology and skin manifestations of obesity. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 56(6), 901–16.