Supervisors: prof.dr. E.F.M. Wouters
Co-supervisors: prof.dr. B.T. Suratt; dr. J.H.J. Vernooy

Society is facing a fast-growing problem with obesity. The negative effects of obesity on health are associated with high health care costs, an example of which being the susceptibility to lung disease. This dissertation studied the effects of obesity on the pulmonary immune response during lung infection. A proper immune response is of crucial importance to prevent and fight lung infection. The main finding of this dissertation is that obesity diminishes the pulmonary immune response due to an impaired function of inflammation cells which play an important role in this immune response. As a result, there is an increased risk of developing lung infection. Furthermore, it is shown that the ‘satisfaction’ hormone leptin, of which increased levels are found in obesity, plays a central protective role in the pulmonary immune response. Disbalance in particular causes a problem, as balanced levels are crucial to a proper pulmonary immune response.

Keywords: obesity, lung infection, immune response