Obesity-associated meta-inflammation alters influenza A antiviral responses in Göttingen minipigs

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 four 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.