Immunity, nerves, tissues: AI study reveals hidden body damage of obesity

We know it, theobesity harms health in many aspects, starting with metabolism and the storage of fats in the body. What we know less is that this pathology also modifies the immune system, nervous structures and the organization of our tissues, thus increasing the risks of several diseases.

If until now scientists lacked the tools to study the systemic effects of obesity, artificial intelligence seems to be changing the situation. Researchers from the University of Munich, Germany, report having developed an AI-based tool, called MouseMapper, to analyze whole-body biological imaging data. A system that makes it possible to automatically segment 31 organs and tissues of the human body, by mapping nerves and immune cells. To identify them, scientists indicate, in their study published in Nature (Source 1), having marked them with fluorescent markers, visible under a microscope. And, via another process, made the laboratory mice almost transparent, in order to better visualize the interior of the organism in imaging.

The analysis allowed researchers to determine precisely where inflammation and damage occurs in different tissues – fat, muscle, liver, peripheral nerves in particular. In particular, they observed, in obese mice, a change in the structure of the trigeminal nerve, this major facial nerve, responsible for facial sensitivity and motor skills. This nerve had, in obese mice, a reduced number of branches and endings. These animals also reacted less to sensory stimulation than mice of “normal” weight.

« We have highlighted previously unknown structural and molecular modifications in the trigeminal ganglion (nervous ganglion of the trigeminal nerve, Editor’s note) and its facial branches, and this same molecular signature has been found in human tissues. This type of discovery cannot be obtained by studying one organ at a time « , commented Dr. Doris Kaltenecker, senior researcher at the Institute of Diabetes and Cancer (IDC) at Helmholtz Hospital in Munich, and first author of the study (Source 2).

Beyond these discoveries on obesity, scientists are hopeful that their new AI-based tool, MouseMapper, will revolutionize the study of complex diseases affecting several aspects of the body.

« Our goal is to create a comprehensive framework for understanding how diseases affect the body like an interconnected system « , said Dr. Ertürk, who led the study. “ In the long term, we want to build digital twins of mice, healthy and sick, with striking realism: cellular atlases that we can interrogate, modify and analyze by digital simulation. This would allow us to identify the first changes induced by a disease, design preventive interventions and accelerate the discovery of new treatments, all by reducing the number of physical experiments required », concluded the researcher.