Agradecimentos: We thank Elzira E. Saviani, Silvia R. Nascimento, and Roberta R. C. Rosales for technical support, Edson Durigon for providing the ancient SARS-CoV-2 lineage, and Laís Coimbra and Alexandre Borin for assistance in the production of viral stocks. We acknowledge the São Paulo Research...

Agradecimentos: We thank Elzira E. Saviani, Silvia R. Nascimento, and Roberta R. C. Rosales for technical support, Edson Durigon for providing the ancient SARS-CoV-2 lineage, and Laís Coimbra and Alexandre Borin for assistance in the production of viral stocks. We acknowledge the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) (2017/08264-8 and 2020/05040-4 to L.O.L., 2020/04746-0 and 2019/00098-7 to D.M.-d.-S., 2019/05155-9 to V.C.C., 2020/04583-4 to M.A.R.V., 2020/15959-5 to M.K.O., 2019/26119-0 to E.A., 2016/00194-8 and 2020/04558-0 to J.L.P.-M., 2020/04579-7 to P.M.M.M.-V., 2021/10373-5 to F.M.-N., 2020/08716-9 to T.D.S., 2013/07607-8, 2020/04919-2, and 2017/01184-9 to M.A.M., 2017/23920-9 to R.G.L., 2016/24163-4 to G.S.P., 2019/04726-2 to T.L.K., and 2018/21635-8 to G.P.R.), Fundo de Apoio ao Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão (FAEPEX) Unicamp (2266/20 to J.L.P.-M., 2456/20 and 2274/20 to M.A.M.), the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) (403201/2020-9 and 310100/2017-8 to E.A., 305628/2020-8 to J.L.P.-M., and 310287/2018-9 to M.A.M.), the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)—Finance Code 001 (88887.356527/2019-00 to M.R.A.), AstraZeneca (to M.A.M.), and Natura (to M.A.M.) for funding this project. We thank the individuals or the individuals’ families whose samples were used in this study

Abstract: Visceral adiposity is a risk factor for severe COVID-19, and a link between adipose tissue infection and disease progression has been proposed. Here we demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infects human adipose tissue and undergoes productive infection in fat cells. However, susceptibility to...

Abstract: Visceral adiposity is a risk factor for severe COVID-19, and a link between adipose tissue infection and disease progression has been proposed. Here we demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infects human adipose tissue and undergoes productive infection in fat cells. However, susceptibility to infection and the cellular response depends on the anatomical origin of the cells and the viral lineage. Visceral fat cells express more ACE2 and are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection than their subcutaneous counterparts. SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to inhibition of lipolysis in subcutaneous fat cells, while in visceral fat cells, it results in higher expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Viral load and cellular response are attenuated when visceral fat cells are infected with the SARS-CoV-2 gamma variant. A similar degree of cell death occurs 4-days after SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of the cell origin or viral lineage. Hence, SARS-CoV-2 infects human fat cells, replicating and altering cell function and viability in a depot- and viral lineage-dependent fashion

FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP

2013/07607-8; 2016/24163-4; 2016/00194-8; 2017/08264-8; 2017/01184-9; 2017/23920-9; 2018/21635-8; 2019/00098-7; 2019/05155-9; 2019/26119-0; 2019/04726-2; 2020/05040-4; 2020/04746-0; 2020/04583-4; 2020/15959-5; 2020/04558-0; 2020/04579-7; 2020/08716-9; 2020/04919-2; 2021/10373-5

CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQ

310100/2017-8; 310287/2018-9; 403201/2020-9; 305628/2020-8

COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPES

001; 88887.356527/2019-00

Aberto