Amino Assets: How Amino Acids Support Immunity Original paper
Researched by:
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Divine Aleru
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Divine Aleru
Read MoreI am a biochemist with a deep curiosity for the human microbiome and how it shapes human health, and I enjoy making microbiome science more accessible through research and writing. With 2 years experience in microbiome research, I have curated microbiome studies, analyzed microbial signatures, and now focus on interventions as a Microbiome Signatures and Interventions Research Coordinator.
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Divine Aleru
Read More
Researched by:
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Divine Aleru
ID
Divine Aleru
Read More
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Divine Aleru
What Was Reviewed?
The article reviews the critical role amino acids play in immune cell function and metabolism. It discusses how immune cells depend on amino acids for energy, protein synthesis, and metabolic reprogramming during activation. This review covers the mechanisms by which amino acid metabolism supports immune cell function, and it explores the potential of targeting amino acid pathways to improve immune responses in diseases such as cancer, infection, and autoimmunity. The review also highlights the involvement of amino acids in regulating immune signaling, maintaining redox balance, and modulating epigenetic processes that influence immune responses and memory.
Who Was Reviewed?
The paper does not focus on a specific group of subjects but instead synthesizes existing research on the role of amino acids in immune cell function. It draws from studies on various immune cells, including T cells, B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, to illustrate how amino acid metabolism is intricately linked to immune activation and regulation. It also discusses findings from clinical and preclinical research regarding the role of amino acids in immune responses to infection, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.
Most Important Findings
The review underscores that amino acids are not just building blocks for protein synthesis but also play multifaceted roles in regulating immune cell metabolism, growth, and function. Key findings include the essential role of amino acid transporters in immune cell activation, where increased expression of these transporters enables immune cells to acquire the nutrients necessary for proliferation and effector function. The review highlights how amino acids contribute to metabolic reprogramming by fueling pathways like glycolysis, the TCA cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation, which are critical for immune cell activation and response. Amino acids like cysteine are involved in maintaining redox balance within immune cells, while others, such as methionine, play a role in protein modification and epigenetic regulation of immune responses. The review also points out that manipulating amino acid metabolism could offer therapeutic strategies for modulating immune responses in various pathological conditions, including cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Key Implications
The review highlights the promising therapeutic potential of targeting amino acid metabolism to modulate immune responses. Understanding how amino acids regulate immune cell function, including their roles in metabolic reprogramming, redox balance, and post-translational modifications, could provide new avenues for treating diseases like cancer, infections, and autoimmune conditions. However, the review also emphasizes the need for further research to fully understand the complex interactions between amino acid metabolism and immune cell function, especially in disease contexts. Future studies may lead to the development of novel strategies to manipulate amino acid pathways, enhancing immune responses or suppressing them in pathological conditions.