Weight reduction improves immune system and inflammatory cytokines in obese asthmatic patients

Background: Activation of immunological and systemic inflammation markers are common in obesity and asthma. Objective: The target of this study was to assess impact of weight reduction on immunological and systemic inflammation markers in obese asthma patients. Material and methods: Eighty asthmatic patients of both sex; their age and body mass index (BMI) mean were 38.72 ± 7.14 year and 32.65 ± 3.18 Kg/m2 respectively. Exclusion criteria included smokers, infections, vaccinations, cancer, surgery, immune system disorders and medications that may influence immune system function as anti-inflammatory medications, analgesics and anti-depressant. All subjects were randomly enrolled in weight reduction group (group A) or control group (group B). Results: The main findings in the present study indicated that weight reducing program in group (A) was associated with significant reduction in the mean values of IL6, TNF-α, and IL8 in addition to significant increase in the mean values of CD4 and CD8 cell count . However, findings of group (B) showed no significant changes. Moreover, Comparison between both groups at the end of the study revealed significant differences. Conclusion: Weight reduction improved immunological and systemic inflammation markers in obese asthma patients. Keywords: Bronchial asthma; cytokines; obesity; immune system; weight reduction.