Schimmer Simone, Kerkmann Leonie, Kahlert Nele, Jubeh Shahd Al, Werner Tanja, Corkish Carrie, Prendeville Hannah, Finlay David K, Sutter Kathrin, Dittmer Ulf, Littwitz-Salomon Elisabeth
Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Institute for the Research on HIV and AIDS-associated Diseases, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
iScience. 2025 Apr 9;28(5):112396. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112396. eCollection 2025 May 16.
Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells able to recognize and eliminate virus-infected cells. NK cell activity strongly correlates with a metabolic reprogramming and breakdown of fatty acids by β-oxidation during virus infections. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the impact of obesity on antiviral NK cell functions. Here, employing the Friend retrovirus mouse model, we show that the cytotoxicity and cytokine production of NK cells was impaired in obesity, leading to higher viral loads. NK cells suppression in obesity was mediated by activated Tregs. Furthermore, obese mice that were switched back to a regular diet showed complete recovery of the NK cell activity. Interestingly, feeding mice with a high-fat diet (HFD) for just ten days caused NK cell dysfunction and increased retroviral burden. This study is the first to link the detrimental impact of an obesity-induced immunosuppressive microenvironment with NK cell dysfunction during an acute retroviral infection.
自然杀伤(NK)细胞是一种先天性免疫细胞,能够识别并清除病毒感染的细胞。在病毒感染期间,NK细胞活性与代谢重编程以及通过β-氧化分解脂肪酸密切相关。然而,关于肥胖对抗病毒NK细胞功能的影响,我们所知甚少。在此,我们利用Friend逆转录病毒小鼠模型表明,肥胖会损害NK细胞的细胞毒性和细胞因子产生,导致病毒载量升高。肥胖状态下NK细胞的抑制是由活化的调节性T细胞介导的。此外,恢复常规饮食的肥胖小鼠显示出NK细胞活性的完全恢复。有趣的是,仅用高脂饮食(HFD)喂养小鼠十天就会导致NK细胞功能障碍并增加逆转录病毒负担。本研究首次将肥胖诱导的免疫抑制微环境在急性逆转录病毒感染期间对NK细胞功能障碍的有害影响联系起来。