From obesity to type 2-diabetes : investigating the immune system's potential role

Understanding the involvement of cells from the immune system in the induction of insulin-resistance

To achieve her goal, Dr. Alessandra Petrelli will work with samples collected from people who undergo bariatric surgery, a term used to designate surgical procedures to induce weight loss in people with severe obesity. Her study will be carried out in 3 consecutive steps. The first one will consist in investigating the features and functions of human T cells in the adipose tissue of obese patients. Second, the immune cells and the adipose cells will be studied in vitro to see if and how they interact in order to unveil eventual links. Finally, the study will seek to find which molecules are involved in the interaction between T cells and the adipose tissue in order to bring forth or develop drugs that can target these molecules.

Being a medical doctor, Dr. Alessandra Petrelli is well positioned to understand the importance of finding strategies to override obesity-induced type 2 diabetes. Obesity currently concerns about 13% of the world’s adult population. According to current estimations, by 2030, 1 adult out of 5 will be obese, threatening both developed and developing countries. By aiming to pave the way for the development of a non-invasive alternative to bariatric surgery, Dr. Alessandra Petrelli’s study could significantly contribute to the fight against obesity and type 2 diabetes and mitigate the tremendous risks these conditions pose to worldwide health.