ApoD mediates age-associated increase in vulnerability to influenza virus infection

Z Zhimin Jiang (Guangxi Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery and Optimization, School of Pharmacy) W Wenliang Pan (National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University) Y Yu Chen D Dongliang Zhou (National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University) S Shuning Ren (National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University) Q Qi Tong (National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University) L Litao Liu (National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University) H Honglei Sun (National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University) Y Yipeng Sun Y Yuhai Bi D Dayan Wang (National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese National Influenza Center, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory for Medical Virology) L Lu Lu J Juan Pu (National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University) K Kin-Chow Chang (School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham) J Jinhua Liu (National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University)

Abstract

Influenza A virus (IAV) infection causes significantly greater morbidity and mortality in the elderly population, but the molecular mechanisms in the aging process responsible for severe infection remain unclear. In this study, we found that increased severity in IAV infection and reduced innate immune response correlated with extensive mitophagy in senescent human cells and in the lung of aged mice. Apolipoprotein D (ApoD) was identified as strongly elevated in the lungs and sera of aged human (>65 y old) and mouse (>21 mo old). ApoD was able to localize to mitochondria and interact, through its WXXI motif in the LC3B-Interacting Region domain, with LC3B to trigger mitophagy during IAV infection, in a PINK1 pathway independent manner, which attenuated type I interferon response and promoted virus replication. ApoD deficiency, on the other hand, protected older mice from severe influenza and improved survival. Likewise, depletion of senescent cells by ABT-263, a senolytic compound, in aged mice lowered ApoD level and restored innate immune antiviral response, limiting virus propagation and associated pulmonary damage. Thus, age-induced ApoD drives IAV-mediated mitophagy, and promotes virus replication and infection severity, and is therefore a promising target for inhibition to improve disease outcome in older patients.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 37
Published September 16, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (15)

Z

Zhimin Jiang

Guangxi Key Laboratory of Drug Discovery and Optimization, School of Pharmacy

W

Wenliang Pan

National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University

Y

Yu Chen

D

Dongliang Zhou

National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University

S

Shuning Ren

National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University

Q

Qi Tong

National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University

L

Litao Liu

National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University

H

Honglei Sun

National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University

Y

Yipeng Sun

Y

Yuhai Bi

D

Dayan Wang

National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese National Influenza Center, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory for Medical Virology

L

Lu Lu

J

Juan Pu

National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University

K

Kin-Chow Chang

School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham

J

Jinhua Liu

National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Avian Influenza and Other Major Poultry Diseases of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University