Adipocytes in obesity: A perfect reservoir for SARS-CoV-2?. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, JingJing; Wilding, John P.H.; Hu, Ji
• Is Part Of: Medical hypotheses. Volume 171(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 -- Adipocyte -- Obesity -- Lipid metabolism; ACE2 angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 -- ATP adenosine triphosphate -- COVID-19 coronavirus disease 2019 -- ER endoplasmic reticulum -- ERGIC ER-to-Golgi intermediate compartment -- FFAs free fatty acids -- LDs lipid droplets -- SARS-CoV-2 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 -- S protein spike protein -- TAGs triacylglycerols; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine -- Périodiques; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2023.111020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-9877

Abstract

Abstract: Research evidence suggests that adipocytes in obesity might facilitate SARS-CoV-2 replication, for it was only found in adipose tissue of individuals with overweight or obesity but not lean individuals who died from COVID-19. As lipid metabolism is key to adipocyte function, and viruses are capable of exploiting and manipulating lipid metabolism of host cells for their own benefit of infection, we hypothesize that adipocytes could not only impair host immune defense against viral infection, but also facilitate SARS-CoV-2 entry, replication and assembly as a reservoir to boost the viral infection in obesity. The latter of which could mainly be mediated by SARS-CoV-2 hijacking the abnormal lipid metabolism in the adipocytes. If these were to be confirmed, an approach to combat COVID-19 in people with obesity by taking advantage of the abnormal lipid metabolism in adipocytes might be considered, as well as modifying lipid metabolism of other host cells as a potential adjunctive treatment for COVID-19.