Mitochondria: the gatekeepers between metabolism and immunity

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Metabolic Biochemistry
• Cellular Biology

Background:

• Metabolism and immunity are vital for maintaining whole-body homeostasis.
• Immune cells require adaptable metabolic strategies, known as metabolic flexibility, to function under varying nutrient conditions.
• Mitochondria play a central role in immunometabolism, influencing immune cell fate and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the interplay between metabolic reconfiguration and immune system actions.
• To highlight the role of mitochondria as central regulators in immunometabolism.
• To explore key immunometabolic hubs and their reciprocal impact in physiological and pathological states.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of Pubmed and Scopus databases.
• Historical overview from early mitochondrial biochemistry studies to current immunometabolism research.
• Analysis of metabolic influences on immune cell function and fate.

Main Results:

• Metabolic flexibility is essential for immune cell resilience and sustained responses.
• Mitochondria are critical "powerhouses" of immunometabolism, beyond energy supply.
• Specific immunometabolic hubs demonstrate reciprocal metabolic-immune interactions.

Conclusions:

• Metabolic adaptation is fundamental to immune cell function and resilience.
• Mitochondrial dynamics are integral to immunometabolism.
• Understanding immunometabolic hubs is key to addressing both health and disease states.