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Updated: Nov 29, 2025

Immunometabolic Circuits in Infection for Advancing Host Directed Therapies
Published on: September 13, 2024
Modification of Proteins by Metabolites in Immunity
C Diskin1, T A J Ryan1, L A J O'Neill1
1School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
Metabolic changes in immune cells, particularly post-translational modifications (PTMs) by metabolites, are crucial for immune responses. Understanding these immunometabolism pathways may lead to new therapies for immune-related diseases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cellular Metabolism
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Immunometabolism is a rapidly growing field in immunology.
- Metabolic reprogramming of immune cells significantly impacts their function.
- Post-translational modifications (PTMs) by metabolites are key mediators of these metabolic changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings in immunometabolism and protein post-translational modifications.
- To explore the role of metabolite-mediated PTMs in immune cell function.
- To speculate on the therapeutic potential of these findings for immune-related diseases.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research in immunometabolism.
- Analysis of studies detailing PTMs in immune cells like macrophages and T cells.
- Synthesis of findings on how metabolic pathways influence immune responses.
Main Results:
- Metabolic pathways, including glycolysis and the Krebs cycle, produce metabolites that mediate protein PTMs.
- Diverse PTMs have been identified in macrophages and T cells.
- These PTMs alter immune cell phenotype, modulating immunity and inflammation.
Conclusions:
- Metabolite-driven PTMs are critical regulators of immune cell function.
- The field of immunometabolism offers promising avenues for therapeutic development.
- Targeting metabolic pathways and PTMs could provide novel treatments for immune-related disorders.
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