Background: Obesity is associated with a systemic low-grade inflammation, predominantlywith an inflammation in adipose tissue. This tissue is thought to be infiltrated by T cells andmacrophages to a greater extent in obese subjects. The CD4-positive T cells differentiate intodifferent immunomodulatory subsets, based on the local milieu, and can therefore be alteredby environmental changes that obesity stimulates.
Aim: The aim of this systematic literature review was to compile conclusions regardingchanges in CD4-positive T cell subset composition in obese humans.
Method: For this systematic literature review, the databases PubMed and Web of Sciencewere used. The research question was defined in PEO format, which constituted the inclusioncriteria. The searches in PubMed and Web of Science (11 and 21 April 2022, respectively)were conducted using free-text and MeSH terms, chosen according to the research question inPEO format. Articles were selected using inclusion and exclusion criteria aside from a criticalappraisal.
Results: In total, 1243 articles were obtained from the two databases and screened.Subsequently, 56 articles were sought for retrieval and only one was not retrieved. Ultimately,19 articles were included in this study. The articles included had incongruous results incomparison to each other.
Conclusion: Regarding obese humans, this study indicates an increase in the proportion of Thelper 17 (Th17) cells in peripheral blood and adipose tissue, and an increase in the Tregulatory (Treg) cell proportion in adipose tissue but a decrease in peripheral blood. Noconvincing results were seen concerning the proportions of Th1, Th2, Th9 and Th22 subsets.
2022.