This study investigates the chronic long-term health condition of obesity and its effect on neutrophil function and the inflammatory response

Inflammation is a central component of the immune response. In its acute form it aids the transition from disease to health via the activation of numerous immune cells, enabling them to reach the site of infection/injury and orchestrate themselves to combat pathogens, facilitating resolution and repair to restore the host to health. However, chronic inflammation is deleterious to the host and differs from the "classical" acute inflammatory process in that the inflammation is not necessarily so readily obvious and is not self-limiting; rather, the immune system is in a constant state of low-grade activation and when challenged by pathogenic or sterile injury the response is heightened, resulting in prolonged tissue damage and a failure of efficient resolution mechanisms.

Neutrophils are important mediators of acquired innate immune responses but may also contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases. Neutrophils are heavily involved in antimicrobial defence; their primary role is the localisation and elimination of pathogenic microorganisms. This, combined with their relatively short lifespan, has resulted in a traditional view of them as limited "kamikaze" cells. However, as detailed here, neutrophils have been shown to act with complexity and sophistication, orchestrating the immune/inflammatory response but also inadvertently contributing to tissue damage in different disease states. This study investigates the chronic long-term health condition of obesity and its effect on neutrophil function and the inflammatory response

Inclusion Criteria for Bariatric participants:

• BMI >40
• Undergoing Gastric Band surgery

Exclusion Bariatric Participants Criteria:

• Undergoing alternative weight loss surgery
• BMI<40
• Smoking
• Pregnancy

Exclusion criteria for the controls

• BMI over 27
• pregnancy
• smoking
• evidence of systemic disease
• use of medications/vitamin supplements.

Two study populations: Healthy control defined as systemically healthy and not taking medication or supplements with a BMI less than 27; Bariatric participants who fit the inclusion and exclusion criteria, but may also present with co-morbidities associated with obesity.