2. Academic Validation
  3. High fat diet promotes asthma by inhibiting the differentiation of regulatory T cells via E3 ubiquitin ligase ITCH

High fat diet promotes asthma by inhibiting the differentiation of regulatory T cells via E3 ubiquitin ligase ITCH

  • Mol Immunol. 2026 Apr:192:32-44. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2026.02.013.
Lin Tong 1,  Lin Su 1,  Jing He 1,  Yi Chen 1,  Zhimin Chen 2,  Lanfang Tang 3,  Xiling Wu 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Pulmonology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310052, China; National Clinical Research Center for Childiren and Adelescents' Health and Diseases, Hangzhou 310052, China.
  • 2 Department of Pulmonology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310052, China; National Clinical Research Center for Childiren and Adelescents' Health and Diseases, Hangzhou 310052, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 3 Department of Pulmonology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310052, China; National Clinical Research Center for Childiren and Adelescents' Health and Diseases, Hangzhou 310052, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 4 Department of Pulmonology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310052, China; National Clinical Research Center for Childiren and Adelescents' Health and Diseases, Hangzhou 310052, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 41791173 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2026.02.013
Abstract

Obesity, a rising global health issue, has been linked to the exacerbation of asthma, increasing both the risk of onset and disease severity. High-fat diet (HFD) has been shown to influence immune responses and worsen asthma in murine models, although the exact mechanisms remain unclear. In our study, we found that HFD significantly reduced the population of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the lungs and led to increased eosinophilic inflammation in asthma. HFD was linked to alterations in lipid metabolism, particularly through the activation of the lipogenic enzyme Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACC1) and inhibition of fatty acid oxidation. Additionally, treatment with Etomoxir, a CPT-1a inhibitor, diminished Treg proportions and Foxp3 expression. We also revealed that the E3 ubiquitin Ligase ITCH, which regulates Treg function, was downregulated at the protein level under HFD conditions, despite unchanged mRNA levels. Overall, our research findings highlight the impact of high-fat diets on Treg function and immune regulation, providing insights for potential therapeutic strategies targeting lipid metabolism in inflammatory diseases like asthma.

Keywords

Asthma; High fat diet; ITCH; Treg.

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