Work

An evolutionary perspective on immunometabolism

Year: 2019

Type: review

Abstract: Metabolism is at the core of all biological functions. Anabolic metabolism uses building blocks that are either derived from nutrients or synthesized de novo to produce the biological infrastructure, whereas catabolic metabolism generates energy to fuel all biological processes. Distinct metabolic programs are required to support different biological functions. Thus, recent studies have revealed how signals regulating cell quiescence, proliferation, and differentiation also induce the appropriate metabolic programs. In particular, a wealth of new studies in the field of immunometabolism has unveiled many examples of the connection among metabolism, cell fate decisions, and organismal physiology. We discuss these findings under a unifying framework derived from the evolutionary and ecological principles of life history theory.

Source: Science

DOI: 10.1126/science.aar3932

Authors: Andrew Wang, Harding H. Luan, Ruslan Medzhitov

Institutions: Yale University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Language: English

Topic: Immune cells in cancer

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Awards: Regulation of Metabolic Programs for Host Tolerance to Inflammation, Interdisciplinary Immunology Training Program