Interactions among nutrition, metabolism and the immune system in the context of starvation and nutrition-stimulated obesity

Abstract The endogenous intestinal microflora and environmental factors, such as diet, play central roles in immune homeostasis and reactivity. The microflora and diet both influence body weight and insulin resistance, notably through their effects on adipose cells. The aim of this study was to prov...

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Main Author: Borros Arneth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-06-01
Series:Nutrition & Diabetes
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41387-025-00383-w
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author Borros Arneth
author_facet Borros Arneth
author_sort Borros Arneth
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The endogenous intestinal microflora and environmental factors, such as diet, play central roles in immune homeostasis and reactivity. The microflora and diet both influence body weight and insulin resistance, notably through their effects on adipose cells. The aim of this study was to provide an update on how nutrient-derived factors (mostly focusing on fatty acids and glucose) impact the innate and acquired immune systems, including the immune system in the gut and its associated bacterial flora. The main source of fuel for energy-demanding immune cells is glucose. Insulin-responsive adipose tissue and Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which are part of the innate immune system and expressed in immune cells, intestinal cells, and adipocytes, are essential actors in the complex balance that ensures systemic immune and metabolic health. Leptin decreases during weight loss and increases brain activity in regions involved in the cognitive, emotional, and sensory control of food intake; restoring leptin levels maintains weight loss and reverses the alterations in brain activity. Obesity-triggering nutrients affect adipocytes, whereas proinflammatory leptin prompts the generation of cytokines and T cells. Collectively, data on nutrients demonstrate that starvation culminates in fat depletion, which then impacts the immune system. In people with obesity, inflammation originates largely from adipose tissue.
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spelling doaj-art-8fef067ebb5b4b99b085d761208947b22025-08-20T02:39:44ZengNature Publishing GroupNutrition & Diabetes2044-40522025-06-011511710.1038/s41387-025-00383-wInteractions among nutrition, metabolism and the immune system in the context of starvation and nutrition-stimulated obesityBorros Arneth0Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps University Marburg, Baldinger StrAbstract The endogenous intestinal microflora and environmental factors, such as diet, play central roles in immune homeostasis and reactivity. The microflora and diet both influence body weight and insulin resistance, notably through their effects on adipose cells. The aim of this study was to provide an update on how nutrient-derived factors (mostly focusing on fatty acids and glucose) impact the innate and acquired immune systems, including the immune system in the gut and its associated bacterial flora. The main source of fuel for energy-demanding immune cells is glucose. Insulin-responsive adipose tissue and Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which are part of the innate immune system and expressed in immune cells, intestinal cells, and adipocytes, are essential actors in the complex balance that ensures systemic immune and metabolic health. Leptin decreases during weight loss and increases brain activity in regions involved in the cognitive, emotional, and sensory control of food intake; restoring leptin levels maintains weight loss and reverses the alterations in brain activity. Obesity-triggering nutrients affect adipocytes, whereas proinflammatory leptin prompts the generation of cytokines and T cells. Collectively, data on nutrients demonstrate that starvation culminates in fat depletion, which then impacts the immune system. In people with obesity, inflammation originates largely from adipose tissue.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41387-025-00383-w
spellingShingle Borros Arneth
Interactions among nutrition, metabolism and the immune system in the context of starvation and nutrition-stimulated obesity
Nutrition & Diabetes
title Interactions among nutrition, metabolism and the immune system in the context of starvation and nutrition-stimulated obesity
title_full Interactions among nutrition, metabolism and the immune system in the context of starvation and nutrition-stimulated obesity
title_fullStr Interactions among nutrition, metabolism and the immune system in the context of starvation and nutrition-stimulated obesity
title_full_unstemmed Interactions among nutrition, metabolism and the immune system in the context of starvation and nutrition-stimulated obesity
title_short Interactions among nutrition, metabolism and the immune system in the context of starvation and nutrition-stimulated obesity
title_sort interactions among nutrition metabolism and the immune system in the context of starvation and nutrition stimulated obesity
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41387-025-00383-w
work_keys_str_mv AT borrosarneth interactionsamongnutritionmetabolismandtheimmunesysteminthecontextofstarvationandnutritionstimulatedobesity