AUTHOR=Gan Zhending , Zhang Meiyu , Xie Donghui , Wu Xiaoyan , Hong Changming , Fu Jian , Fan Lijuan , Wang Shengyi , Han Sufang 

TITLE=Glycinergic Signaling in Macrophages and Its Application in Macrophage-Associated Diseases

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.762564

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2021.762564

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Accumulating evidences support that amino acids direct the fate decision of immune cells. Glycine is a simple structural amino acid acting as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Besides, glycine receptors as well as glycine transporters are found in macrophages, indicating that glycine alters the functions of macrophages besides as an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Mechanistically, glycine shapes macrophage polarization <italic>via</italic> cellular signaling pathways (e.g., NF-κB, NRF2, and Akt) and microRNAs. Moreover, glycine has beneficial effects in preventing and/or treating macrophage-associated diseases such as colitis, NAFLD and ischemia-reperfusion injury. Collectively, this review highlights the conceivable role of glycinergic signaling for macrophage polarization and indicates the potential application of glycine supplementation as an adjuvant therapy in macrophage-associated diseases.</p>