Investigating the Effect of Short-term Fasting on T Cell Metabolism, Function, and Phenotype in Obesity

The immune system is made up of many types of immune cells, each of which play a specialized role in protecting against pathogens. T cells are a crucial part of the adaptive immune system, and receive signals from the body's metabolism which tell them whether they should become activated to respond to an infection or if they should stay in their resting state. In obesity, the body's metabolism shifts and these T cells become less effective at protecting against infection and instead start to increase inflammation which is involved in obesity-related health conditions. The investigators are conducting this study because the investigators are interested in understanding how fasting, which will alter the metabolic signals that T cells receive, might impact the types of T cells that are present and how they respond to activating signals. Additionally, the investigators are interested in understanding if these responses differ between T cells from individuals with obesity versus lean individuals.