AUTHOR=Peruzzotti-Jametti Luca , Willis Cory M. , Hamel Regan , Krzak Grzegorz , Pluchino Stefano 

TITLE=Metabolic Control of Smoldering Neuroinflammation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.705920

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2021.705920

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=Compelling evidence exists that patients with chronic neurological conditions, which includes progressive multiple sclerosis, display pathological changes in neural metabolism and mitochondrial function. However, it is unknown if a similar degree of metabolic dysfunction occurs also in non-neural cells in the central nervous system. Specifically, it remains to be clarified (i) the full extent of metabolic changes in tissue-resident microglia and infiltrating macrophages after prolonged neuroinflammation (e.g., at the level of chronic active lesions), and (ii) whether these alterations underlie a unique pathogenic phenotype  that is amenable for therapeutic targeting. 
Herein, we discuss how cell metabolism and mitochondrial function govern the function of chronic active microglia/macrophages brain infiltrates and identify new metabolic targets for therapeutic approaches aimed at reducing smoldering neuroinflammation.