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Updated: Nov 10, 2025

Saturated Fatty Acids Induce Ceramide-associated Macrophage Cell Death
Published on: October 31, 2017
Fa(c)t checking: How fatty acids shape metabolism and function of macrophages and dendritic cells
1Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
In recent years there have been major advances in our understanding of the role of free fatty acids (FAs) and their metabolism in shaping the functional properties of macrophages and DCs. This review presents the most recent insights into how cell intrinsic FA metabolism controls DC and macrophage function, as well as the current evidence of the importance of various exogenous FAs (such as polyunsaturated FAs and their oxidation products-prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and proresolving lipid mediators) in affecting DC and macrophage biology, by modulating their metabolic properties. Finally, we explore whether targeted modulation of FA metabolism of myeloid cells to steer their function could hold promise in therapeutic settings.
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