Year: 2025
Type: review
Abstract: This article reviews the multifaceted roles of itaconate in immune regulation and inflammatory metabolism. Itaconic acid is a dicarboxylic acid with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumor properties. It is initially produced by the heating decomposition of citric acid and is closely related to the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In immune regulation, itaconate regulates macrophage function through a variety of mechanisms, including metabolic reprogramming, polarization regulation, inhibition of cytokine production, and regulation of oxidative stress. It can also affect the function of T cells and B cells. In terms of inflammatory metabolism, itaconate can regulate the production of inflammatory factors, inhibit the activity of succinate dehydrogenase, and affect cellular energy metabolism and lipid metabolism. Its mechanism of action involves the inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase, covalent modification of proteins, influence on epigenetic modification, and playing a role through the G protein-coupled receptor OXGR1 (Oxoglutarate Receptor 1). Itaconic acid derivatives have shown good effects in anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation and have broad application prospects in clinical treatment, including the treatment of inflammatory diseases, anti-tumor and anti-microbial infection. However, the long-term safety and side effects of itaconic acid as a therapeutic agent still need to be further studied. Future studies will further explore the synthesis and function of itaconic acid in different cell types, its physiological effects in non-inflammatory conditions, and its potential application in clinical treatment in order to develop new therapeutic strategies and improve the treatment effect of chronic inflammatory and metabolism-related diseases.
DOI: 10.3390/cimb47070534
Authors: Kai Ma, Pei Zhou, Wei Zhang, Liwu Zeng, Kaixiong Tao, Peng Zhang
Language: English
Topic: Immune cells in cancer
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,654
Awards: G4094896397, G4690169344
OpenAlex ID: W4412197748