Khanna Lab
Principal Investigator: Kamal Mohan Khanna
Institution: New York University (New York, NY)
Primary Subfield: Molecular & Cell Bio
Recruitment Status: ✅ Hiring Postdocs
Research Focus
ABSTRACT: Diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes (T2D), is associated with hyperglycemia (Hg) and obesity (Ob). Hg/Ob is associated with greater severity of disease and mortality in respiratory viral infections, such as SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza. Hg/Ob exaggerates damaging inflammation and dampens anti-viral responses. To address underlying mechanisms, we and others have established mouse models and report that in mice infected with SARS-CoV-2, antecedent Hg/Ob: (1) reduces survival; and (2) increases inflammatory cytokines, TNF- alpha, IL-alpha, IL-beta, and IL-9, all factors which recapitulate human disease. Our key preliminary data reveal that in Hg/Ob, depletion of lung resident alveolar macrophages (AMs) significantly improves survival in SARS- CoV-2 infection; in contrast, in lean mice, depletion of AMs causes significant mortality. These considerations indicate that Hg/Ob significantly reprograms AMs to cause them to become highly proinflammatory, with markedly reduced resolution potential. Strikingly, pre-infection, the lungs of mice and humans with Hg/Ob contain an extensive network of adipose tissue and crown like structures, macrophages, including AMs. Hg/Ob augments recr…
Active NIH Awards
- 5R01DK138675-03: Effect of obesity and diabetes in regulating pulmonary and extra-pulmonary anti-viral immune responses (2026)
- 5R01AI188824-02: Role of resident macrophages in type II responses and trained immunity (2026)
- 5R01DK138675-02: Effect of obesity and diabetes in regulating pulmonary and extra-pulmonary anti-viral immune responses (2025)
- 1R01AI188824-01: Role of resident macrophages in type II responses and trained immunity (2025)
- 1R01DK138675-01A1: Effect of obesity and diabetes in regulating pulmonary and extra-pulmonary anti-viral immune responses (2024)
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