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GLP-1 analogues may fight off cancer in people with obesity
![GLP-1 analogues may fight off cancer in people with obesity GLP-1 analogues may fight off cancer in people with obesity](https://medicaldialogues.in/h-upload/2023/05/10/750x450_209235-obesity-3.webp)
Ireland: Therapy with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues may restore natural killer (NK) cell functionality in people with obesity, contributing to their ability to fight off cancer, researchers suggest in a recent study published in the Obesity. The study findings will be presented at the 30th European Congress on Obesity on the 20th of May in Dublin.
Obesity is associated with increased mortality from viral infection and cancer. Peripheral blood natural killer cells are defective in obese people."Our study showed that GLP-1 analogues can restore the function of natural killer cells in the body, including its ability to kill cancerous cells," the authors wrote.
In the study, semaglutide (GLP-1 therapy) improved NK cell function, as measured by interferon-γ/granzyme B production and cytotoxicity. In addition, the results revealed increases in a CD98-mTOR-glycolysis metabolic axis, which is critical for producing NK cell cytokine.
Previous research has shown that obese people have functionally defective natural killer cells with a reduced capacity for cytokine production and kill target cells underpinned by impaired cellular metabolism. The researchers said, "It is plausible that changes in peripheral NK cell activity contribute to multimorbidity, including an increased cancer risk in obese people."
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
MSc. Biotechnology
Medha Baranwal joined Medical Dialogues as an Editor in 2018 for Speciality Medical Dialogues. She covers several medical specialties including Cardiac Sciences, Dentistry, Diabetes and Endo, Diagnostics, ENT, Gastroenterology, Neurosciences, and Radiology. She has completed her Bachelors in Biomedical Sciences from DU and then pursued Masters in Biotechnology from Amity University. She has a working experience of 5 years in the field of medical research writing, scientific writing, content writing, and content management. She can be contacted at  editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751
Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751