Ketone Bodies Improve Human CD8⁺ Cytotoxic T-Cell Immune Response During COVID-19 Infection.

ABSTRACT: Severe COVID-19 is characterized by profound CD8⁺ T-cell dysfunction, which cannot be specifically treated to date. We here investigate whether metabolic CD8⁺ T-cell reprogramming by ketone bodies could be a promising strategy to overcome the immunoparalysis in COVID-19 patients. This approach was triggered by our recent pioneering study, which has provided evidence that CD8⁺ T-cell capacity in healthy subjects could be significantly empowered by a Ketogenic Diet. These improvements were achieved by immunometabolic rewiring toward oxidative phosphorylation. We here report similar strengthening of CD8⁺ T cells obtained from severely diseased COVID-19 patients: Flow cytometry and ELISA revealed elevated cytokine expression and secretion (up to + 24

SUBMITTER: Hirschberger S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9243504 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature