Impact Of Aging On Gut-Lung-Adipose Tissue Interactions And Lipid Metabolism During Influenza Infection In Mice
As we age, our bodies respond differently to infections like the flu, and new research sheds light on why older individuals often experience more severe illness. This study investigated how influenza affects the complex interplay between the gut, lungs, and fat tissue in young versus aged mice.
The researchers found that older mice suffered from more severe influenza, along with noticeable changes in their white fat tissue. These changes included increased inflammation and a reduced ability for this fat to “brown,” a process where white fat cells become more like calorie-burning brown fat cells. Essentially, the fat tissue in older mice became less healthy and contributed to a weaker immune response.
Significant age-related differences were also observed in the gut bacteria. For instance, beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia increased in young mice after infection, while other bacteria, Faecalibaculum and Muribaculum, which were linked to lung problems, expanded exclusively in aged mice. The body’s metabolic responses to the infection also varied with age, affecting different lipid (fat) pathways.
These findings highlight that aging profoundly alters how the body’s interconnected systems respond to viral infections. Understanding these age-specific changes in fat tissue, gut microbes, and metabolism could pave the way for developing tailored treatments, such as targeted probiotics or therapies addressing specific metabolic pathways, to better protect older adults from severe influenza.
Source: link to paper