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Quarleri J, Delpino MV. The interplay of aging, adipose tissue, and COVID-19: a potent alliance with implications for health. GeroScience 2024; 46:2915-2932. [PMID: 38191833 PMCID: PMC11009220 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-01058-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Obesity has emerged as a significant public health challenge. With the ongoing increase in life expectancy, the prevalence of obesity is steadily growing, particularly among older age demographics. The extension of life expectancy frequently results in additional years of vulnerability to chronic health issues associated with obesity in the elderly.The concept of SARS-CoV-2 directly infecting adipose tissue stems from the fact that both adipocytes and stromal vascular fraction cells express ACE2, the primary receptor facilitating SARS-CoV-2 entry. It is noteworthy that adipose tissue demonstrates ACE2 expression levels similar to those found in the lungs within the same individual. Additionally, ACE2 expression in the adipose tissue of obese individuals surpasses that in non-obese counterparts. Viral attachment to ACE2 has the potential to disturb the equilibrium of renin-angiotensin system homeostasis, leading to an exacerbated inflammatory response.Consequently, adipose tissue has been investigated as a potential site for active SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting its plausible role in virus persistence and contribution to both acute and long-term consequences associated with COVID-19.This review is dedicated to presenting current evidence concerning the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the adipose tissue of elderly individuals infected with the virus. Both obesity and aging are circumstances that contribute to severe health challenges, heightening the risk of disease and mortality. We will particularly focus on examining the mechanisms implicated in the long-term consequences, with the intention of providing insights into potential strategies for mitigating the aftermath of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Quarleri
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Piso 11, C1121ABG, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - M Victoria Delpino
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida (INBIRS), Universidad de Buenos Aires, CONICET, Paraguay 2155, Piso 11, C1121ABG, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Quaranta P, Scabia G, Storti B, Dattilo A, Quintino L, Perrera P, Di Primio C, Costa M, Pistello M, Bizzarri R, Maffei M. SARS-CoV-2 Infection Alters the Phenotype and Gene Expression of Adipocytes. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2086. [PMID: 38396763 PMCID: PMC10889321 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence emphasizes that excess fat mass is associated with an increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease. Nevertheless, the intricate interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and adipocytes remains poorly understood. It is crucial to decipher the progression of COVID-19 both in the acute phase and on long-term outcomes. In this study, an in vitro model using the human SGBS cell line (Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome) was developed to investigate the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in adipocytes, and the effects of virus exposure on adipocyte function. Our results show that SGBS adipocytes expressing ACE2 are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, as evidenced by the release of the viral genome into the medium, detection of the nucleocapsid in cell lysates, and positive immunostaining for the spike protein. Infected adipocytes show remarkable changes compared to uninfected controls: increased surface area of lipid droplets, upregulated expression of genes of inflammation (Haptoglobin, MCP-1, IL-6, PAI-1), increased oxidative stress (MnSOD), and a concomitant reduction of transcripts related to adipocyte function (leptin, fatty acid synthase, perilipin). Moreover, exogenous expression of spike protein in SGBS adipocytes also led to an increase in lipid droplet size. In conclusion using the human SGBS cell line, we detected SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in adipocytes, revealing substantial morphological and functional changes in infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Quaranta
- Retrovirus Center, Virology Section, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (P.Q.); (P.P.); (M.P.)
- National Research Council—Institute of Neuroscience, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.D.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Gaia Scabia
- National Research Council—Institute of Clinical Physiology, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (G.S.); (L.Q.)
- Center for Obesity and Lipodystrophy, Pisa University-Hospital, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Barbara Storti
- National Enterprise for nanoScience and nanoTechnology, Scuola Normale Superiore, National Research Council—Institute of Nanoscience, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Alessia Dattilo
- Center for Obesity and Lipodystrophy, Pisa University-Hospital, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Lara Quintino
- National Research Council—Institute of Clinical Physiology, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (G.S.); (L.Q.)
| | - Paola Perrera
- Retrovirus Center, Virology Section, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (P.Q.); (P.P.); (M.P.)
| | - Cristina Di Primio
- National Research Council—Institute of Neuroscience, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.D.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Mario Costa
- National Research Council—Institute of Neuroscience, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.D.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Retrovirus Center, Virology Section, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Savi 10, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (P.Q.); (P.P.); (M.P.)
- Virology Unit, Pisa University-Hospital, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ranieri Bizzarri
- National Enterprise for nanoScience and nanoTechnology, Scuola Normale Superiore, National Research Council—Institute of Nanoscience, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy;
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology, and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 65, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Margherita Maffei
- National Research Council—Institute of Clinical Physiology, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (G.S.); (L.Q.)
- Center for Obesity and Lipodystrophy, Pisa University-Hospital, Via Paradisa 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
- Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics, Via Filippo Buonarroti 3, 56127 Pisa, Italy
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