High glucose levels increase influenza-associated damage to the pulmonary epithelial-endothelial barrier

Here, the effects of high glucose levels on influenza severity were investigated using an in vitro model of the pulmonary epithelial-endothelial barrier. We show that compared to low glucose levels, high glucose conditions prior to influenza A virus infection increased virus-induced barrier damage. Increased barrier damage was not associated with increased cell death nor increased virus replication, but rather an increased pro-inflammatory response in endothelial cells and the subsequent damage of the epithelial junctional complex. Human epithelial cells and human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells were grown in a transwell system. Endothelial cells were exposed to either normoglycemic (7mM glucose) or hyperglycaemic conditions (12mM glucose). Cells were then infected with Influenza A Virus (or mock infection protocol for control) before performing RNA-Seq analysis.