Fatty acid metabolism-an emerging regulatory node in T-cell immunometabolism

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Metabolic pathways
• Cellular biology

Background:

• Glucose metabolism's role in immune regulation is known, but fatty acid metabolism's contribution is less defined.
• Lipid metabolism encompasses catabolic, anabolic, and signaling aspects influencing immune cell function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the immunomodulatory functions of fatty acid metabolism, focusing on T-cell biology.
• To explore emerging targets within fatty acid metabolism for modulating inflammatory responses.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on fatty acid metabolism and immune function.
• Focus on T-cell biology, including epigenetic, oxidative, and signaling roles of lipids.
• Examination of therapeutic targets, transcription factors, metabolic enzymes, and dietary interventions.

Main Results:

• Short-chain fatty acids affect T-cell epigenetics via histone acetylation.
• Medium- and long-chain fatty acids support regulatory T-cell expansion and function through fatty acid oxidation (FAO).
• Very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids generate signaling molecules, and de novo synthesis links lipid metabolism to epigenetic regulation.

Conclusions:

• Fatty acid metabolism presents promising therapeutic targets for inflammation modulation.
• Translating findings from murine models to human T-cell biology requires further validation in ex vivo human models.