Immunometabolic regulation of the host response to viral infection in the context of obesity

Project Information

Virobe

Grant agreement ID: 101063888

DOI

10.3030/101063888

Project closed

EC signature date 13 June 2022

Start date 1 January 2023

End date 31 December 2024

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 214 934,40

Coordinated by

KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Denmark

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Virobe (Immunometabolic regulation of the host response to viral infection in the context of obesity)

Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-12-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The overall objective of this project was to study mechanisms of infection-induced tissue wasting in the contexts of obesity. We set out these two objectives:

Objective 1: Are profiles of cytokines, macrophages, and glucose homeostasis altered in obese mice during LCMV infection compared to lean mice?

Objective 2: Does targeting cytokines, macrophages and glucose homeostasis during LCMV infection impact on the progressive tissue wasting in obese mice, and do these factors crosstalk?

New aspects in the project: we implemented a new angle/hypothesis to the study and investigated the consequences of the depleted adipose tissue on liver health. Circulating lipids can be deposited ectopically, and cause lipotoxicity and resultant insulin resistance and cardiometabolic dysfunctions. The major sink for lipids is the liver, and we studied liver pathology and systemic parameters associated with liver damage.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The main scientific achievements encompass the following:

(i) I characterized the metabolic and immunological aspects of the host response to chronic viral infection in the settings of obesity; this can be further investigated by looking if various chronic inflammatory settings in obese subjects show similar pattern of response;
(ii) I identified CD8+ T cells as a potential target for limiting infection-induced fat wasting in obese population; this can be further investigated by assessing the role of these cells in other wasting conditions observed in obese population, e.g. cancer;
(iii) Identified negative consequences on the liver health during vast adipose tissue depletion in infection settings; this can be further investigated by assessing if these changes are transient or progressive, and by addressing the correlation of inflammation and MASLD in both obese and non-obese settings;
(iv) I rejected the hypothesis that the blockade of the pro-cachectic mediator TNF- and the blood glucose-lowering drug metformin could be used for treating infection-induced fat depletion;

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

With the MSCA project, we showed for the first time that chronic viral infection induces vast and progressive depletion of fat in obese animals. Such profound fat depletion can have negative consequences on the whole body because circulating fat derived from fat tissue can be deposited ectopically, and cause lipotoxicity fuelling insulin resistance and cardiometabolic complications. Several publications reported that chronic viral diseases in humans often correlate with higher liver steatosis, with limited insights into mechanisms driving this phenomenon. Here, we found a link between infection-induced fat depletion and lipid deposition in the liver. Our findings can be a base for investigation of the processes regulating the crosstalk between the adipose tissue and liver in the settings of infection. Finally, I view it highly important to raise awareness, that fat depletion is not always beneficial and it does depend on the conditions, e.g. in the settings of inflammation where fat depletion can be detrimental on liver health.