Impaired ketogenesis ties metabolism to T cell dysfunction in COVID-19

Anorexia and fasting are host adaptations to acute infection, and induce a metabolic switch towards ketogenesis and the production of ketone bodies, including beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)(1-6). However, whether ketogenesis metabolically influences the immune response in pulmonary infections remains unclear. Here we show that the production of BHB is impaired in individuals with SARS-CoV-2-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) but not in those with influenza-induced ARDS. We found that BHB promotes both the survival of and the production of interferon-gamma by CD4(+) T cells. Applying a metabolic-tracing analysis, we established that BHB provides an alternative carbon source to fuel oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and the production of bioenergetic amino acids and glutathione, which is important for maintaining the redox balance. T cells from patients with SARS-CoV-2-induced ARDS were exhausted and skewed towards glycolysis, but could be metabolically reprogrammed by BHB to perform OXPHOS, thereby increasing their functionality. Finally, we show in mice that a ketogenic diet and the delivery of BHB as a ketone ester drink restores CD4(+) T cell metabolism and function in severe respiratory infections, ultimately reducing the mortality of mice infected with SARS-CoV-2. Altogether, our data reveal that BHB is an alternative source of carbon that promotes T cell responses in pulmonary viral infections, and highlight impaired ketogenesis as a potential confounding factor in severe COVID-19.

Automated summary

This study found that impaired production of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is associated with severe COVID-19 respiratory distress syndrome. BHB promotes the survival and interferon-gamma production of CD4(+) T cells. BHB acts as an alternative carbon source, fueling oxidative phosphorylation and maintaining the redox balance.