Time-restricted feeding prior to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection reduces tissue CD4+ T cells with limited impact...

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Metabolism
• Microbiology

Background:

• The impact of time-restricted feeding (TRF) on immune responses during bacterial infections remains largely unexplored.
• Understanding how dietary interventions like TRF influence host-pathogen interactions is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of 8-hour time-restricted feeding (TRF) on host immune responses and metabolic profiles during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection in mice.
• To determine if TRF-induced metabolic perturbations persist during Mtb infection and affect immune cell populations.

Main Methods:

• Male mice (6-8 weeks old) were subjected to 8-hour TRF for 30 days before infection with Mtb H37Rv.
• Global serum and liver metabolomics, along with liver proteomics, were performed to analyze metabolic and proteomic changes.
• Immune cell populations (CD3+, CD4+ T cells) in bone marrow and lungs were quantified post-infection.

Main Results:

• TRF improved glucose tolerance and caused minimal weight loss in the initial 15 days.
• TRF significantly perturbed fatty acid biosynthesis/degradation, steroid hormone biosynthesis, and tyrosine metabolism.
• Mice on TRF exhibited similar Mtb burdens but had significantly reduced CD3+ T cells in bone marrow and CD4+ T cells in bone marrow and lungs.

Conclusions:

• Time-restricted feeding induces persistent alterations in amino acid and lipid metabolism during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
• TRF affects the distribution and function of host immune cells, particularly T cells, during Mtb infection.
• These findings highlight the complex interplay between dietary interventions, host metabolism, and immune responses in the context of bacterial pathogenesis.