It has been long known that cellular metabolism enables immune cell differentiation and activation, by reprogramming itself to meet either the rapid or persistent energy demand. During the last 2 decades, striking discoveries have gradually emerged to demonstrate that metabolism of immune cells also possesses the power to govern effector functions of adaptive and innate immune cells far beyond the energy supply. Mechanistically, metabolic pathways might be interlinked with other non-metabolic pathways to impact immune responses, some metabolites are proven to be modulators of immune functions, and certain metabolic enzymes are discovered with non-canonical roles as direct immune regulators. Therefore, it is high time to re-visit cell metabolism of immune cells with special focuses on its novel roles to regulate immune effector functions.

In this Research Topic, we aim to extend the knowledge on the non-canonical roles of metabolic pathways, metabolites, and metabolic enzymes beyond energy metabolism. Studies from the last two decades have highlighted various metabolic players, such as glycolysis, TCA cycle, one-carbon metabolism, α-KG, succinate, itaconate, acetyl-CoA, and showcased their non-canonical roles independent of energy metabolism, involving regulations of immune effector functions at transcriptional, post-translational, and epigenetic levels in a wide range of adaptive and innate cells. Reasoned by the great complexity of cellular metabolism, we believe the already revealed knowledge regarding non-canonical roles of cell metabolism is just the tip of an iceberg, i.e., an enormous amount of knowledge remains to be explored. Combined with the spatiotemporal complexity and physio-/pathological specificity of immune cell functions, the topic of cell metabolism to impact immune cell functions is far-more gigantic than it has been uncovered. Building on the knowledge from the basic science, endeavour on this topic will expectedly provide novel targets for therapeutic intervention on immune responses to ameliorate diseases where immune cells play critical roles, such as infection, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, cancers, metabolic complications, and neurodegenerative diseases.

We welcome submissions of original research, reviews and mini reviews involving the following themes:

• Metabolic pathways impacting effector functions of immune cells.

• Metabolites or metabolic intermediates possessing immune regulatory functions.

• Metabolic enzymes exhibiting non-canonical functions on immune cell functions.

• Metabolite transporters-mediated immune regulations.

• Novel technologies to facilitate the discovery of novel roles of cell metabolism in immune functions.

Studies addressing the tissue-specific, and/or disease-related immune cell metabolism will be particularly welcomed. Manuscript consisting of solely bioinformatics analysis of public databases without experimental validation and robust analysis will not be considered.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Immune cell metabolism beyond energy supply – An emerging era to showcase novel roles in immune effector functions