AUTHOR=Makhijani Priya , Basso Paulo José , Chan Yi Tao , Chen Nan , Baechle Jordan , Khan Saad , Furman David , Tsai Sue , Winer Daniel A. TITLE=Regulation of the immune system by the insulin receptor in health and disease JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology VOLUME=14 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2023.1128622 DOI=10.3389/fendo.2023.1128622 ISSN=1664-2392 ABSTRACT=

The signaling pathways downstream of the insulin receptor (InsR) are some of the most evolutionarily conserved pathways that regulate organism longevity and metabolism. InsR signaling is well characterized in metabolic tissues, such as liver, muscle, and fat, actively orchestrating cellular processes, including growth, survival, and nutrient metabolism. However, cells of the immune system also express the InsR and downstream signaling machinery, and there is increasing appreciation for the involvement of InsR signaling in shaping the immune response. Here, we summarize current understanding of InsR signaling pathways in different immune cell subsets and their impact on cellular metabolism, differentiation, and effector versus regulatory function. We also discuss mechanistic links between altered InsR signaling and immune dysfunction in various disease settings and conditions, with a focus on age related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, cancer and infection vulnerability.