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Related Concept Videos

Obesity01:24

Obesity

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The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
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Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism

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Carbohydrate metabolism is a fundamental biochemical process that ensures a constant supply of energy to living cells. The most important carbohydrate is glucose, which can be broken down via glycolysis to enter into the Krebs cycle and eventually lead to the production of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
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Lipid metabolism is a crucial process in the human body that involves the synthesis and degradation of lipids. This process is essential for energy production, cell membrane formation, and hormone production, among other functions.
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Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer01:19

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Chronic stress has been linked to both the onset and progression of serious health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes and cancer. Type 2 diabetes, a widespread chronic illness, is closely associated with obesity and insulin resistance, both of which often worsen under stress. Studies indicate that men experiencing high levels of chronic stress face a 45% higher risk of developing diabetes compared to those with minimal stress. Stress triggers physiological responses that elevate blood...
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Updated: May 10, 2025

Isolation, Characterization, and Purification of Macrophages from Tissues Affected by Obesity-related Inflammation
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Obesity-Induced Metabolic Priming Exacerbates SARS-CoV-2 Inflammation.

Gustavo Gastão Davanzo1, Bianca Gazieri Castelucci1, Gabriela Fabiano de Souza2

  • 1Laboratory of Immunometabolism, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.

Immunology
|April 23, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Free fatty acids (FFAs) from obesity epigenetically reprogram immune cells, worsening inflammation and viral load during COVID-19. This metabolic priming mechanism explains increased COVID-19 severity in individuals with obesity.

Keywords:
COVID‐19inflammationinnate immunitymonocyteobesity

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Metabolic disorders
  • Virology

Background:

  • Individuals with obesity face higher risks for severe COVID-19.
  • Obesity is linked to chronic low-grade inflammation driven by elevated free fatty acids (FFAs).
  • The precise mechanisms connecting obesity, inflammation, and SARS-CoV-2 severity remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how free fatty acids (FFAs) associated with obesity influence immune cell responses during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • To elucidate the epigenetic and metabolic pathways linking obesity to exacerbated COVID-19 outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Monocyte analysis from individuals with obesity and lean controls.
  • In vitro priming of monocytes with palmitate (a key FFA).
  • Assessment of viral load, gene expression (IL-6), mitochondrial function, and histone acetylation (H3K18) following SARS-CoV-2 exposure.
  • Controlled dietary intervention (palm oil ingestion) in healthy individuals.

Main Results:

  • FFAs epigenetically reprogram monocytes, termed 'metabolic-primed immunity'.
  • Palmitate-primed monocytes exhibit increased SARS-CoV-2 viral load and elevated IL-6 expression.
  • Primed monocytes show enhanced fatty acid oxidation and mitochondrial citrate production, supporting H3K18 acetylation and IL-6 gene accessibility.
  • Palm oil consumption in healthy individuals increased FFAs and primed monocytes for a heightened inflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusions:

  • Obesity-induced FFAs promote a 'metabolic-primed immunity' in monocytes.
  • This metabolic priming exacerbates inflammatory responses and viral load during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Findings reveal a key mechanism contributing to severe COVID-19 in individuals with obesity.