Cover Story Current Issue

Viral infections are recognized as contributing factors in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases. Viruses causing chronic infection are particularly important due to their capacity to induce sustained inflammation. Especially individuals with obesity - who exhibit preexisting metabolic abnormalities, low-grade inflammation, and altered antiviral responses - are at increased risk of viral infection-induced metabolic complications. Despite these associations, the specific metabolic consequences of chronic viral infections in obesity remain insufficiently characterized.

Full text

 

Current Issue

Long-term high-protein diet intake accelerates adipocyte senescence through macrophage CD38-mediated NAD+ depletion

Xiaohan Yang, Lun Hua, Dengfeng Gao, Yanni Wu, ... De Wu

Long-term high-protein diet intake accelerates adipocyte senescence through macrophage CD38-mediated NAD+ depletion

High-protein (HP) diets are widely adopted in Western societies for body-weight management; yet, they exacerbate senescence-associated metabolic deterioration, posing an unresolved pathophysiological conundrum. Here, we demonstrate that long-term HP intake mediates adipocyte-specific NAD+ depletion and mitochondrial dysfunction in white adipose tissue (WAT). Single-nucleus transcriptomic analyses revealed adipocyte-restricted senescence signatures in HP-fed mice. Mechanistically, HP intake triggers macrophage-specific upregulation of CD38 (a key NAD+ hydrolase), which depletes adipocyte NAD+ pools and thereby accelerates cellular senescence. Restoration of NAD+ levels, either via supplementation with NAD+ precursor or pharmacological inhibition of CD38 activity, alleviated the senescence-associated metabolic sequelae induced by HP diets. Our findings establish macrophage-adipocyte NAD+ crosstalk as a central axis linking dietary protein excess to WAT aging, providing actionable targets for the prevention and treatment of age-related metabolic disorders.

 

Articles in Press

Long-term high-protein diet intake accelerates adipocyte senescence through macrophage CD38-mediated NAD+ depletion

Xiaohan Yang, Lun Hua, Dengfeng Gao, Yanni Wu, ... De Wu

Long-term high-protein diet intake accelerates adipocyte senescence through macrophage CD38-mediated NAD+ depletion

High-protein (HP) diets are widely adopted in Western societies for body-weight management; yet, they exacerbate senescence-associated metabolic deterioration, posing an unresolved pathophysiological conundrum. Here, we demonstrate that long-term HP intake mediates adipocyte-specific NAD+ depletion and mitochondrial dysfunction in white adipose tissue (WAT). Single-nucleus transcriptomic analyses revealed adipocyte-restricted senescence signatures in HP-fed mice. Mechanistically, HP intake triggers macrophage-specific upregulation of CD38 (a key NAD+ hydrolase), which depletes adipocyte NAD+ pools and thereby accelerates cellular senescence. Restoration of NAD+ levels, either via supplementation with NAD+ precursor or pharmacological inhibition of CD38 activity, alleviated the senescence-associated metabolic sequelae induced by HP diets. Our findings establish macrophage-adipocyte NAD+ crosstalk as a central axis linking dietary protein excess to WAT aging, providing actionable targets for the prevention and treatment of age-related metabolic disorders.

 

Early Bird Registration extended until 16 Aug!

13th
Helmholtz Diabetes Conference 

Munich, 21-23. Sep 2026                                                                                                                             

2024 impact factor: 6.6

You are what you eat

Here is a video of Vimeo. When the iframes is activated, a connection to Vimeo is established and, if necessary, cookies from Vimeo are also used. For further information on cookies policy click here.

Auf Werbeinhalte, die vor, während oder nach Videos von WEBSITE-URL eingeblendet werden, hat WEBSITE-URL keinen Einfluss. Wir übernehmen keine Gewähr für diese Inhalte. Weitere Informationen finden Sie hier.