Obesity Drug Semaglutide Could Restore Immune Cells That Kill Cancer

An obesity drug offers more health benefits than what was previously expected. According to a new report, semaglutide doesn't only help one lose weight; it can also restore the natural killer cells in the body.

Obesity Drug Semaglutide Against Cancer

In a small trial, semaglutide, a medication for type 2 diabetes, was tested to see if it could also help persons with obesity's cellular metabolism issues, which may explain why they have higher incidences of cancer and infections.

The medication, which diabetic patients take to control their blood sugar levels, has only ever caused weight loss as an unanticipated adverse effect. It simulates the gut hormone GLP1, which prolongs satiety and curbs hunger.

According to Medline Plus, Semaglutide injection (Ozempic) is used alongside diet and exercise to control the blood sugar level of those with type 2 diabetes. It's also used to lower one's risk of stroke, heart attack, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart and blood vessel disease.

In a previous report from Science Times, Semaglutide injections had been approved for National Health Service (NHS) use. Professor Alex Miras said it could help patients lose up to a fifth of their weight by self-administering injections weekly.

It appears that semaglutide also restores the functionality of natural killer cells, which are immune cells that actively fight cancer and infections in obese individuals, ScienceAlert reported.

Endocrinologist and co-author Donal O'Shea of University College Dublin believes they are finally at a stage where medicinal treatments for obesity are being demonstrated to prevent its complications. The latest research offers highly encouraging news for obese patients receiving GLP-1 therapy and raises the possibility that this class of medications advantages also includes lowered cancer risk.

That's a big conclusion from a tiny study of 20 people. Still, it is conceivable that boosting the activity of natural killer cells could reduce the risk of developing cancer.

Semaglutide Restores Body's Natural Killer Cells

The body's innate immune system, which activates at the first sign of an invader, includes natural killer cells as its first line of defense. They have a reputation for focusing on malignant cells and battling infections.

However, those who are obese have significant immune system dysfunction, which may be related to the fact that they are also more likely to develop other chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and various cancers. They risk even worse results if they get infections like the flu or COVID-19.

O'Shea and colleagues were curious to explore if semaglutide may be repurposed for the latter to address some of the immunological imbalances associated with obesity, given the overlap between diabetes and the condition.

In a series of laboratory tests, the researchers discovered that the participants' natural killer cells were no longer in slumps and had started releasing the signaling molecules, known as cytokines, they typically should. Although their function was restored, the total number of natural killer cells in the blood samples of the patients remained the same as at baseline.

Without a control group, they cannot compare this to semaglutide in the case of non-obese individuals or a placebo in the case of obese individuals. But it's a terrific place to learn more about how some of the comorbidities of obesity might be treated with already available medications.

According to O'Shea and her colleagues, cellular metabolism is a crucial prerequisite for natural killer cell activity and can control the intensity of responses. Natural killer cells are molded and given instructions by internal metabolic processes and nutrition availability upon activation.

Senior immunologist, Andrew Hogan of Maynooth University in Ireland, hoped it would be controlled so that as many people as possible living with obesity could start their treatment using the beneficial drug.

The study was published in the journal Obesity.

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