Severe Obesity Accelerates Lung Ageing, Finds Study

People with severe obesity may experience accelerated ageing of the lungs, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Bonn, Germany.

The study, published in the journal Cell Reports, suggests that obesity remodels the lungs at a molecular level, leading to structural and functional changes similar to those observed in older individuals.

The research team investigated how lungs respond to nutritional challenges in obesity, focusing on the extracellular matrix, the protein-based scaffolding that provides shape and stability to lung tissue.

They found that obesity alters this scaffolding, disrupting the balance of certain protease inhibitors and making the lungs less elastic.

Lung fibroblasts, the connective tissue cells, accumulate fat, become more mobile, and show early signs of ageing. These changes may help explain why individuals with obesity often experience breathing difficulties.

Advanced Methods Reveal Molecular Changes

Using multi-omics approaches, the researchers analysed proteins, fats, and genes simultaneously, complemented by microscopic imaging and functional experiments.

They compared lungs from obese and lean mice, studied human lung connective tissue cells, and examined the overall lung composition.

The study highlighted that obesity triggers complex alterations in fibroblastic stroma (FSCs) and the extracellular matrix, which are challenging to analyse due to their diverse cell types and intricate protein structures.

The findings indicate that overnutrition may contribute to premature lung ageing, potentially compromising lung function over time. By accelerating changes typically associated with ageing, severe obesity could increase vulnerability to respiratory issues, underscoring the importance of maintaining a healthy weight for long-term lung health.

“Our study shows that obesity leads to structural and functional changes in the lungs that resemble ageing, highlighting the need to consider obesity as a key factor in respiratory health,” the researchers said.

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