Can Bariatric Surgery Help to Prevent Autoimmunity?

Background: Obesity has been linked to the development and progression of autoimmune diseases.

Aim: To investigate the presence of autoantibodies in the sera of bariatric-surgery patients.

Methods: During the pre- and postoperative period, sera from 79 patients undergoing bariatric surgery were tested for the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), Rheumatoid Factor (RF), IgG and IgM anticardiolipin antibodies, and anti-endomysial antibodies.

Bariatric surgery results in restoration of physiological plasma levels of pentraxine-3.

Pentraxine-3 (PTX3) is a member of the humoral innate immune system and serves a role in protection against infections, inflammation control and matrix deposition. The aim of the present study was to measure the PTX3 levels in obese patients and its association with glycemic and lipid profiles, and to analyze the effects of weight loss provided by bariatric surgery in serum PTX3 levels. PTX3 was measured in 84 obese patients whom underwent bariatric surgery and 94 healthy controls.