Losing too much weight when infected with COVID-19 has been shown to worsen outcomes. Now, researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have found that SARS-CoV-2 infection promotes adipose tissue angiogenesis and activates the body’s thermogenic metabolism. Blocking this process using existing drugs suppressed weight loss in virus-infected mice and hamsters, according to a study published in the journal. natural metabolism.
“Our study proposes an entirely new concept for treating COVID-19-related weight loss by targeting blood vessels in adipose tissue,” said Karolinska Institutet Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology. Yihai Cao, professor of the department, said. author.
Researchers have investigated how different types of fat, including brown fat, visceral and subcutaneous fat, respond when exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and how they affect body weight in mice and hamsters. I checked. They found that the animal lost a significant amount of weight in her four days, and that this weight loss was preceded by activation of brown fat and browning of both types of white fat. These adipose tissues also contained more microvessels and high levels of a signaling protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that promotes the growth of new blood vessels.
The researchers observed the same mechanism in human tissue samples from four patients who died of COVID-19, suggesting that the results may be clinically relevant in humans.
When researchers treated the animals with substances that inhibit the formation of new blood vessels, so-called anti-angiogenic drugs, the animals regained most of their lost body weight, and adipose tissue showed a reduction in microvessels.
“Anti-angiogenic drugs are now used in the clinic to treat different types of cancer,” said Yihai Cao. “These drugs may also help treat COVID-19-related problems such as excessive weight loss and metabolic changes, improving the quality of life and survival of these patients. Of course, before The clinical results are also valid in human trials.”
This study was funded by grants from the Swedish Research Council, Hong Kong Center for Cerebro-cardiovascular Health Engineering, Swedish Cancer Foundation, NOVO Nordisk, Swedish Childhood Cancer Fund, Strategic Research Areas (SFO)-Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine. I was. Foundation, Karolinska Institutet Foundation, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Doctors Fund of Shandong Natural Science Foundation. The authors report no conflicts of interest.
Story source:
Materials provided Karolinska Institute. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
.
