Effects of murine norovirus infection on a mouse model of diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance

Comp Med. 2010 Jun;60(3):189-95.

Abstract

Murine norovirus (MNV) is prevalent in SPF mouse facilities in the United States, and we currently lack sufficient data to determine whether it should be eliminated. It is generally accepted that the virus does not cause clinical symptoms in immuno-competent mice. However, we previously reported that MNV infection alters the phenotype of a mouse model of bacteria-induced inflammatory bowel disease in part through its effects on dendritic cells. The tropism of MNV toward macrophages and dendritic cells makes MNV a potential intercurrent variable in murine models of macrophage-driven inflammatory diseases, such as obesity, insulin resistance, and atherosclerosis. Therefore, we determined whether MNV infection altered obesity and insulin resistance phenotypes in C57BL/6 mice, a widely used model of diet-induced obesity. We found that MNV did not alter weight gain, food intake, and glucose metabolism in this model, but it did induce subtle changes in lymphoid tissue. Further studies using other models of metabolic diseases are needed to provide additional information on the potential role this 'subclinical' virus might have on disease progression in mouse models of inflammatory diseases.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Body Weight
  • Caliciviridae Infections / physiopathology*
  • Caliciviridae Infections / virology
  • Diet*
  • Dietary Fats / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Progression
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / microbiology
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / pathology
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / virology
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Lymph Nodes / cytology
  • Lymph Nodes / metabolism
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Norovirus / pathogenicity*
  • Obesity* / etiology
  • Obesity* / metabolism

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Dietary Fats