tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
iScience
. 2026 Aug 24;29(9):117056.
doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.117056. eCollection 2026 Sep 18.
Betina Lyngfeldt Henriksen 1 , Sofie Maiken Riisgård Starbæk 1 , Louise Brogaard 1 , Charlotte Kristensen 2 , Siri Wolthoorn 1 , Louise Lohse 3 , Anders Stockmarr 4 , Henrik Elvang Jensen 2 , Lars E Larsen 2 , Peter Mikael Helweg Heegaard 5 , Kerstin Skovgaard 1
Affiliations
Obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for increased severity following influenza A virus (IAV) infection, likely by promoting meta-inflammation and immune dysregulation, but its effects on antiviral and inflammatory responses remain poorly understood. Using a Göttingen minipig model of diet-induced obesity, we compared antiviral and inflammatory responses before and after IAV infection. Respiratory tract transcriptomics and histopathology revealed no clear obesity-associated immune or inflammatory changes in uninfected minipigs. In contrast, obese pigs showed reduced viral clearance in nasal mucosal tissue accompanied by altered antiviral gene expression pattern 4 days post-infection. Furthermore, cellular infiltration of the respiratory tract was observed in obese pigs after infection. Finally, C-reactive protein concentrations increased significantly in obese pigs, indicating enhanced systemic inflammation in response to respiratory infection. These findings demonstrate that diet-induced obesity in Göttingen minipigs is associated with altered antiviral and inflammatory responses following IAV infection and support the translational value of the obese minipig model.
Keywords: diet-induced obesity; influenza A virus; innate antiviral immune response; meta-inflammation.
. 2026 Aug 24;29(9):117056.
doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.117056. eCollection 2026 Sep 18.
Obesity-associated meta-inflammation alters influenza A antiviral responses in Göttingen minipigs
Betina Lyngfeldt Henriksen 1 , Sofie Maiken Riisgård Starbæk 1 , Louise Brogaard 1 , Charlotte Kristensen 2 , Siri Wolthoorn 1 , Louise Lohse 3 , Anders Stockmarr 4 , Henrik Elvang Jensen 2 , Lars E Larsen 2 , Peter Mikael Helweg Heegaard 5 , Kerstin Skovgaard 1
Affiliations
- PMID: 42698973
- PMCID: PMC13542486
- DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.117056
Abstract
Obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for increased severity following influenza A virus (IAV) infection, likely by promoting meta-inflammation and immune dysregulation, but its effects on antiviral and inflammatory responses remain poorly understood. Using a Göttingen minipig model of diet-induced obesity, we compared antiviral and inflammatory responses before and after IAV infection. Respiratory tract transcriptomics and histopathology revealed no clear obesity-associated immune or inflammatory changes in uninfected minipigs. In contrast, obese pigs showed reduced viral clearance in nasal mucosal tissue accompanied by altered antiviral gene expression pattern 4 days post-infection. Furthermore, cellular infiltration of the respiratory tract was observed in obese pigs after infection. Finally, C-reactive protein concentrations increased significantly in obese pigs, indicating enhanced systemic inflammation in response to respiratory infection. These findings demonstrate that diet-induced obesity in Göttingen minipigs is associated with altered antiviral and inflammatory responses following IAV infection and support the translational value of the obese minipig model.
Keywords: diet-induced obesity; influenza A virus; innate antiviral immune response; meta-inflammation.