Obesity Expands a Distinct Population of T Cells in Adipose Tissue and Increases Vulnerability to Infection.

ABSTRACT: Obesity in humans is associated with poorer health outcomes after infections compared with non-obese individuals. Here, we examined the effects of white adipose tissue and obesity on T cell responses to viral infection in mice. We show that lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) grows to high titer in adipose tissue. Virus-specific T cells enter the adipose tissue to resolve infection but then remain as a memory population distinct from memory T cells in lymphoid tissues. Memory T cells in adipose tissue are abundant in lean mice, and diet-induced obesity further increases memory T cell number in adipose tissue and spleen. Upon re-challenge infection, memory T cells rapidly cause severe pathogenesis, leading to increases in lipase levels, calcification of adipose tissue, pancreatitis, a

SUBMITTER: Misumi I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6652206 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature