Host metabolic and immune pathways

Host metabolic and immune pathways represent the integrated network of biochemical reactions and signaling cascades that govern cellular energy homeostasis and defense responses. This interplay, often termed immunometabolism, highlights how metabolic states—such as the shift from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis—dictate the activation, differentiation, and effector functions of immune cells like macrophages and T-cells (O'Neill et al., 2016, Nature Reviews Immunology). In disease states like cancer, metabolic reprogramming allows tumors to sequester nutrients and create an immunosuppressive microenvironment, thereby evading host defenses (Hanahan & Weinberg, 2011, Cell). Conversely, in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, aberrant metabolic signaling can drive the overactivation of the immune system (Buck et al., 2017, Cell). Because this term encompasses a vast array of enzymes, receptors, and metabolites rather than a single protein, it is considered a broad biological system rather than a specific therapeutic target. Therapeutic interventions typically focus on specific nodes within these pathways, such as mTOR or AMPK, to restore physiological balance. The complexity of these pathways means that targeting them requires a deep understanding of the crosstalk between systemic metabolism and local immune responses. As such, the term is too broad for use as a specific molecular target in drug discovery contexts.

Other names

ImmunometabolismMetabolic-immune axisHost metabolic-immune crosstalkImmuno-metabolic signaling

Systemic modulation of metabolic flux and immune cell signaling networks.