Metabolic Control of Type 2 Immunity

Type 2 immune responses play key roles in protection against parasitic worm infections, whole-body metabolic homeostasis, wound healing and the development of allergies. As a result, there is considerable interest in understanding the pathways that regulate type 2 immunity in order to identify strategies of targeting and controlling these responses. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that the functional properties of immune cells, including those involved in type 2 immune responses, are dependent on the engagement of specific metabolic pathways such as aerobic glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation (FAO). We here discuss these latest insights in the metabolic regulation of immune cells that initiate type 2 immune responses, such as dendritic cells and innate lymphoid cells, as well as immune cells involved in the effector phase, like T helper 2 (Th2) cells, B cells and alternatively activated macrophages (M2 macrophages). Finally, we consider whether these findings may provide new prospects for the treatment of type 2 immune response-associated diseases.

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