Targeting Fatty Acid Metabolism to Alter Immune Function

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About this Research Topic

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Background

It is established that cellular metabolism is a major factor that guides the development, heterogeneity and functions of immune cells. Immune cells employ a distinct metabolic profile and they can reprogram the metabolism rapidly depending on their activation state, nutrient availability and pathophysiological situations. Glucose and glutamine metabolism and their related pathway have been the focus in many previous studies for the regulation of development, heterogeneity, survival, proliferation, and function of immune cells. However, in recent years studies have revealed that fatty acid metabolism is also one of the key determining factors. Our general understanding until now is that resting and anti-inflammatory immune cells, like naïve T cells, memory T cells, regulatory T/B cells and M2 macrophages mainly utilize oxidation of fatty acids, while activated immune cells and pro-inflammatory immune cells like Th1, Th17, M1 macrophages and activated cytotoxic CD8+ T cells switch to glycolysis or glutaminolysis. Recent findings added more complexity to this view as fatty acid metabolism is shown to play a critical role in activated and pro-inflammatory immune cells.

We are still in infancy about our understanding fatty acid metabolism in immune cells, but its key role is already beginning to unfold. Better understanding of fatty acid metabolism in immune cells may lead to the identification of important control points that will possibly be specific targets to manipulate immune cells function for enhancing immunity against tumor and infection and resolving inflammation. Moreover, given the increasing evidence about the direct and indirect association/interaction of adipose cells or obesity conditions with immune heterogeneity and function, studies about fatty acid metabolism in immune cells are of additional relevance.

In this Research Topic, we welcome the submission of original research, reviews and perspective articles focusing on various aspects of fatty acid metabolism in a wide range of immune cells but not limited to T cells, B cells, macrophage and dendritic cells in both physiological and pathophysiological conditions, including cancer, autoimmunity, and cardiovascular and neurological disorders.

We welcome submissions covering, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:

1. Updates on the role of fatty acid metabolism on the development, function, heterogeneity and plasticity of immune cells.

2. Updates on interplay or metabolic reprogramming of fatty acid metabolism with respect to other metabolic pathways during physiological or pathophysiological conditions.

3. Modulation of fatty acid metabolism (therapeutically/reduced lipid diet/increase lipid diet) to improve immune functions or immunotherapies.

4. Updates on lipid uptake, fatty acid oxidation (mitochondrial and peroxisomal), lipogenesis and lipolysis on all types of immune cells.

5. Signaling pathways regulating fatty acid metabolism in immune cells in physiological or pathophysiological condition.

6. Updates of age-related modulation of fatty acid metabolism on immune cells.

Keywords: fatty acid metabolism, immune function, metabolic reprogramming, fatty acid, metabolism, immunity

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