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Increased adiposity in animals due to a human virus

International Journal of Obesity volume 24, pages 989–996 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Four animal models of virus-induced obesity including adiposity induced by an avian adenovirus have been described previously. This is the first report of adiposity induced in animals by a human virus.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the adiposity promoting effect of a human adenovirus (Ad-36) in two different animal models.

DESIGN: Due to the novel nature of the findings we replicated the experiments using a chicken model three times and a mammal model once. In four separate experiments, chickens and mice were inoculated with human adenovirus Ad-36. Weight matched groups inoculated with tissue culture media were used as non-infected controls in each experiment. Ad-36 inoculated and uninfected control groups were housed in separate rooms under biosafety level 2 or better containment. The first experiment included an additional weight matched group of chickens that was inoculated with CELO (chick embryo lethal orphan virus), an avian adenovirus. Food intakes and body weights were measured weekly. At the time of sacrifice blood was drawn and visceral fat was carefully separated and weighed. Total body fat was determined by chemical extraction of carcass fat.

RESULTS: Animals inoculated with Ad-36 developed a syndrome of increased adipose tissue and paradoxically low levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides. This syndrome was not seen in chickens inoculated with CELO virus. Sections of the brain and hypothalamus of Ad-36 inoculated animals did not show any overt histopathological changes. Ad-36 DNA could be detected in adipose tissue, but not skeletal muscles of randomly selected animals for as long as 16 weeks after Ad-36 inoculation.

CONCLUSIONS: Data from these animal models suggest that the role of viral disease in the etiology of human obesity must be considered.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge Drs Geoffrey Letchworth and Lisa Krugner-Higby for advice on virological aspects and Sharon Gathright, Dr Tami Wolden-Hanson and Kathleen Taylor for laboratory assistance. Supported by funds from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation's Beers–Murphy Clinical Nutrition Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

    NV Dhurandhar

  2. Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

    BA Israel

  3. School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

    JM Kolesar

  4. Department of Genetics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

    GF Mayhew

  5. Department of Poultry Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

    ME Cook

  6. Departments of Medicine and Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA

    RL Atkinson

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  1. NV Dhurandhar
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Correspondence to NV Dhurandhar.

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Dhurandhar, N., Israel, B., Kolesar, J. et al. Increased adiposity in animals due to a human virus. Int J Obes 24, 989–996 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801319

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