Protein energy malnutrition decreases immunity and increases susceptibility to influenza infection in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Protein energy malnutrition (PEM), a common cause of secondary immune deficiency in children, is associated with an increased risk of infections. Very few studies have addressed the relevance of PEM as a risk factor for influenza.

Methods

We investigated the influence of PEM on susceptibility to, and immune responses following, influenza virus infection using isocaloric diets providing either adequate protein (AP; 18%) or very low protein (VLP; 2%) in a mouse model.

Results

We found that mice maintained on the VLP diet, when compared to mice fed with the AP diet, exhibited more severe disease following influenza infection based on virus persistence, trafficking of inflammatory cell types to the lung tissue, and virus-induced mortality. Furthermore, groups o

SUBMITTER: Taylor AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11341849 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature