Ketogenesis activates metabolically protective γδ T cells in visceral adipose tissue

Nat Metab. 2020 Jan;2(1):50-61. doi: 10.1038/s42255-019-0160-6. Epub 2020 Jan 20.

Abstract

Ketone bodies are essential alternative fuels that allow humans to survive periods of glucose scarcity induced by starvation and prolonged exercise. A widely used ketogenic diet (KD), which is extremely high in fat with very low carbohydrates, drives the host into using β-hydroxybutyrate for the production of ATP and lowers NLRP3-mediated inflammation. However, the extremely high fat composition of KD raises the question of how ketogenesis affects adipose tissue to control inflammation and energy homeostasis. Here, by using single-cell RNA sequencing of adipose-tissue-resident immune cells, we show that KD expands metabolically protective γδ T cells that restrain inflammation. Notably, long-term ad libitum KD feeding in mice causes obesity, impairs metabolic health and depletes the adipose-resident γδ T cells. In addition, mice lacking γδ T cells have impaired glucose homeostasis. Our results suggest that γδ T cells are mediators of protective immunometabolic responses that link fatty acid-driven fuel use to reduced adipose tissue inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Diet, Ketogenic
  • Homeostasis
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Intra-Abdominal Fat / immunology
  • Intra-Abdominal Fat / metabolism*
  • Ketone Bodies / biosynthesis*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / metabolism*
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA / methods
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Ketone Bodies
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
  • 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid