Abstract

Immunometabolism is the intersection between biochemistry and immunology by which metabolic pathways regulate immune cell growth, differentiation and effector function . This concept was established as early as 1912 when Levene and Meyer discovered that leucocytes convert hexose into two tri-carbonic molecules. However it has taken years of concerted effort to convince the broader scientific community of the importance of immune cell metabolism in understanding disease pathogenesis. This editorial will discuss how recent discoveries in the field have provided novel opportunities to understand a range of virus- mediated inflammatory diseases, focusing on glucose metabolism. Moreover it will discuss how research in the field has informed development of novel drug targets to meet the growing needs of patients with chronic inflammatory conditions.

Link to publisher’s web site