A bioenergetic basis for multiorgan dysfunction in sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening multiorgan dysfunction that develops from a maladaptive host response to infection ¹ . With an estimated 49 million cases per year and ∼11 million related deaths ² , sepsis is a global WHO health priority ³ . Failure to overcome sepsis morbidity and lethality ^4,5 calls for alternative therapeutic approaches ^6–8 . Here we report that adipocyte lipolysis is vital to prevent the pathogenesis of sepsis in mice. This protective response is evolutionary conserved, producing a plasma lipidomic profile ^9,10 that reflects on the severity of clinical sepsis. Mechanistically, adipocyte lipolysis fuels energy metabolism to sustain adaptive thermoregulation to infection, via insulin production and insulin receptor (INSR) signaling in adipocytes. This metabolic-based defense strategy does not impact on bacterial burden, establishing disease tolerance to infection ^11–14 . In conclusion, adipocyte lipolysis induces insulin to rewire energy metabolism and support organ function in response to infection.