GLP-1 analogues may fight off cancer in people with obesity

Conor De Barra, Maynooth University, County Kildare, Ireland, and colleagues aimed to determine whether therapy with long-acting GLP-1 analogues, an effective obesity treatment, could restore NK cell functionality in people with obesity.

In a cohort of 20 people with obesity, the researchers investigated whether six months of once-weekly GLP-1 therapy (semaglutide) restores natural human killer cell function and metabolism using cytotoxicity assays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and multicolour flow cytometry.

The study revealed the following findings:

• People with obesity who received GLP-1 treatment have improved natural killer cell function, as measured by cytotoxicity and interferon-γ/granzyme B production.
• The study demonstrates an increased CD98-mTOR-glycolysis metabolic axis, critical for NK cell cytokine production.
• The reported NK cell function improvements appear independent of weight loss.

The results imply that NK cell functionality is restored in people with obesity following glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue treatment. GLP-1 therapy boosts the cellular metabolism of natural killer cells in these patients. These treatment-related improvements in NK cells were independent of weight loss.

"The direct restoration, by GLP-1 therapy, of NK cell cytokine production and metabolism in PWO may contribute to the overall benefits seen with this class of medication," the authors concluded.

Reference:

Barra, C. D., Khalil, M., Mat, A., Shaamile, F., Brennan, K., & Hogan, A. E. Glucagon-like peptide-1 therapy in people with obesity restores natural killer cell metabolism and effector function. Obesity. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23772