Figure 2.

Insights gained from small animal models of the impact of MetS on viral immunity. Several small animal models have been utilized to interrogate the impact of MetS on viral immunity. The main animal models employed thus far are those that model dyslipidemia, obesity, hyperglycemia, and hypertension. Studies done utilizing these animal models have revealed that MetS-associated conditions lead to enhanced viral disease severity, blunted type I interferon responses, elevated viral titers, impaired macrophage infiltration to sites of infection, impaired T cell effector responses, generation of poorly neutralizing antibodies, poor antibody maintenance, and impaired maintenance of memory T cells.