Experts have found out how fatty liver affects the resistance of E. coli.
Hepatosis
Biologists suggest that men and women wentin different ways in search of a compromise between immunity and metabolism occurring in the liver. So males were able to fight bacterial infections due to wounds received in battles for dominance. And the females managed to accumulate subcutaneous fat in order to survive in conditions of food shortage. Scientists decided to test this theory in a real experiment.
Experiments have shown that male mice are three timesmore likely than females to survive after infection with E. coli bacteria. The females developed hyperlipidemia. This condition is seen in people with severe sepsis. Lower lipid levels helped them survive.
The biologists then studied how males and femalesare responding to the modern problem of overeating by feeding mice a high-fat diet. As a result, the males developed fatty liver and glucose intolerance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. In females, this phenomenon was not observed. The trend continued even when males and females gained the same amount of weight.
After reviewing previous studies, scientists have determinedtranscription factor BCL6, which prevents the breakdown of fat in the liver. Removing the gene for this protein eliminated liver fat in males, and with it their ability to survive infection.
Read more:
A monster black hole was found in the "backyard" of the Earth: it is very close to our planet
NASA revealed the origin of Haumea - the most mysterious planet in the solar system
Webb photographed the Pillars of Creation. Compare how Hubble shot them before