Metabolic Regulation of Immune Responses

The immune system defends against pathogens and maintains tissue homeostasis for the life of the organism. These diverse functions are bioenergetically expensive, requiring precise control of cellular metabolic pathways. Although initial observations in this area were made almost a century ago, studies over the past decade have elucidated the molecular basis for how extracellular signals control the uptake and catabolism of nutrients in quiescent and activated immune cells. Collectively, these studies have revealed that the metabolic pathways of oxidative metabolism, glycolysis, and glutaminolysis preferentially fuel the cell fate decisions and effector functions of immune cells. Here, we discuss these…

• AH
  American Heart Association
• LL
  Larry L. Hillblom Foundation
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: DK094641, HL076746, DP1AR064158