Moderate starvation when sick can enhance immune cell activity

In patients with severe COVID-19, there is not enough
ketone bodies produced by metabolism to produce certain high-energy compounds.

However, two important cell types in the immune system need these energy vectors to effectively fight viruses
.

Perhaps this finding explains why some people are sicker than others
.

A study led by the University of Bonn in Germany points at least in this direction
.

The findings have been published in the
journal Nature.

They also offer hope
for new therapies.

When T cells (blue-white spheres) are filled with energy in the form of ketone bodies (blue), they can fight viruses more effectively

When we are sick, we often have no appetite
.

This also has an impact on our metabolism: because it no longer provides carbohydrates, it converts to burning fat
.

This produces energy-rich molecules
called ketone bodies.

These may help our bodies better cope with the virus
.

At least that's what the current findings are
.

Professor Christoph Wilhelm of the Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology at the University Hospital of Bonn explains: "We found that patients with influenza infections produce a considerable amount of ketone bodies
.

In contrast, we found almost no increase in Covid-19 patients, at least in moderate or severe patients
.

"In addition, surprisingly, people infected with Covid-19 had lower
levels of inflammatory messengers in their blood.

This is especially true
for interferon-γ.

It's a cytokine secreted by a specific set of immune cells — helper T cells — that uses it to summon phagocytes and other defense forces of the immune system to fight viruses
.

However, in order to efficiently produce interferon-γ, helper T cells clearly need an adequate supply
of ketone bodies.

If this is lacking, they produce less
interferon-γ.

In addition, helper T cells also die prematurely
.

Ketone bodies make the immune system stronger

The researchers also found a similar effect
in another group of important immune cells, killer T cells.

Therefore, this result also raises the promise of new treatment options – it is possible to strengthen the body's own defenses
through targeted dietary changes.

Source: Biocom