Researchers from The University of Tokyo unravel the connection between high body temperature and increased viral resistance.

Clinical evidence suggests that elderly individuals are at the next risk of contracting viral infections. Quite notably, the older people even have lower mean body temperatures. Nonetheless, the consequences of increased body temperature on fighting viral infections remain largely unexplored. A team of Japanese researchers has now been in a position to bridge the gap by linking higher body temperature with an increased infection-fighting capability of the gut microorganisms or “microbiota.” Their study was published in Volume 14 Issue 3863 of Nature Communications in June 2023 and made available online on 30 June 2023.

To conduct their experiments, the team used mice which were heat- or cold-exposed at 4°C, 22°C, or 36°C every week before influenza virus infection. After the viral infection was induced, the cold-exposed mice mostly died attributable to severe hypothermia, whereas the heat-exposed mice were highly immune to the infection even at increasing doses of the virus. “High-heat-exposed mice raise their basal body temperature above 38°C, allowing them to provide more bile acids in a gut microbiota-dependent manner,” remarks Dr. Takeshi Ichinohe from the Division of Viral Infection, The University of Tokyo, Japan.

The authors speculated that signaling of deoxycholic acid (DCA) from the gut microbiota and its plasma membrane-bound receptor “Takeda G-protein-coupled receptor 5” (TGR5) increased host resistance to influenza virus infection by suppressing virus replication and neutrophil-dependent tissue damage.

While working on these experiments, the team noticed that mice infected with the influenza virus showed decreased body temperatures nearly 4 days after the onset of the infection, they usually snuggled together to remain warm!

The team noticed similar results after switching the influenza virus with SARS-CoV-2 and the study results were also validated using a Syrian hamster model. Their experiments revealed that body temperature over 38°C could increase host resistance to influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 infections. Furthermore, in addition they found that such increase in body temperature catalyzed key gut microbial reactions, which in turn, led to the production of secondary bile acids. These acids can modulate immune responses and safeguard the host against viral infections.

Dr. Ichinohe explains, “The DCA and its nuclear farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist protect Syrian hamsters from lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, certain bile acids are reduced within the plasma of COVID-19 patients who develop moderate I/II disease compared with the minor severity of illness group.”

The team then performed extensive evaluation to achieve insight into the precise mechanisms underlying the gut-metabolite-mediated host resistance to viral infections in heat-exposed rodents. Besides, in addition they established the role of secondary bile acids and bile acid receptors in mitigating viral infections.

“Our finding that reduction of certain bile acids within the plasma of patients with moderate I/II COVID-19 may provide insight into the variability in clinical disease manifestation in humans and enable approaches for mitigating COVID-19 outcomes,” concludes Dr. Ichinohe.

To briefly summarize, the published study reveals that the high-body-temperature-dependent activation of gut microbiota boosts the serum and intestinal levels of bile acids. This suppresses virus replication and inflammatory responses that follow influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections.

A heartfelt appreciation to the Japanese researchers for putting their trust of their intuition and gut instincts!

Source:

The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo

Journal reference:

Nagai, M., et al. (2023). High body temperature increases gut microbiota-dependent host resistance to influenza A virus and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nature Communications. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39569-0.