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Published on: February 12, 2019
The metabolic code of pulmonary disease: from mechanisms to therapeutic opportunities
Ella Kearney1,2, Sze-Ying Tan1,2, Zhuowen Wang1,3,2
1Department of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
Abstract:
Emerging evidence suggests that metabolic dysregulation is a central driver in the pathogenesis of pulmonary disorders, extending beyond structural or immunological failures. This review synthesises current research on the specific alterations of glucose and lipid metabolism within the context of asthma, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer. We highlight how these metabolic alterations fuel disease progression and identify them as promising targets for novel biomarkers and therapeutic interventions. Finally, we outline critical future directions, emphasising the need to distinguish between causality and consequence, and the importance of mapping metabolic fluxes at the single-cell level.
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