NK Cell Cytotoxicity in Influenza-infected Mice with Diet Variations

Obesity is epidemic that affects more than a third of the U.S. population. Additionally, the influenza virus is an infectious disease that affects millions of people and claims a quarter to half a million lives each year. The few studies that have been conducted on these two factors and their effect on immune response have found that obese influenza-infected mice had suppressed immune function in combatting the influenza infection as well as reduced expression of proinflammatory cytokines and decreased NK cell cytotoxicity. In this study, we expand on this topic and explore the effects of NK cell cytotoxicity with diet-induced weight change in influenza-infected mice. One of the goals of this study is to determine if beneficial weight change from a metabolically obese mouse to lean plays a significant role in restoring NK cell function. Upon analyzing the data, we found that weight change did not play a significant role affecting NK cell cytotoxicity. Furthermore, we found that the original weight status of the mouse had similar NK cell function and so mice that were originally lean, regardless of if they underwent weight change, had a significantly greater NK cell cytotoxicity than if the mouse was originally obese. I believe that these studies are relevant to global public health and preventative medicine because if we are able to determine how weight change effects the immune function in influenza-infected models, we will be better able to understand how to help certain individuals based on their weight status.Bachelor of Science in Public Healt