title: Obesity impairs cell-mediated immunity during the second trimester of pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obese pregnancy is associated with significantly higher rates of infection, which can harm both mother and fetus. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of obesity on maternal blood immune function.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional, case control study of 15 obese (Ob) and 15 lean (Lc) subjects. Immune cell subsets, intracellular and serum cytokine production, and lymphocyte proliferation were measured in maternal blood during the second trimester of pregnancy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Obese women had a significantly lower proportion of CD8+ and NKT cells and a higher proportion of B cells, impaired cytokine production when stimulated ex vivo, and impaired ability of lymphocytes to proliferate compared with their lean counterparts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obese pregnancy is associated with impaired cell-mediated immunity. Because perinatal infections can have serious maternal and fetal consequences, it is imperative to better understand these mechanistic underpinnings to optimize prevention and devise targeted therapy.
authors.affiliation: Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA. ssen@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
authors.forename: Sarbattama
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Chitra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iyer
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Klebenov
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Histed
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Aviles
authors.forename: Simin N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Meydani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D055611:Natural Killer T-Cells / Q000276:immunology; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines