The Roles of Lipids in Immunometabolism: The crosstalk between lipid metabolisms and inflammation

About this Research Topic

Background

Many common metabolic diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, and obesity are often associated with hyperlipidemia as well as systemic chronic inflammation. Despite a strong positive correlation, the exact molecular mechanisms linking hyperlipidemia to inflammation, especially under disease settings, remain poorly understood. In the past decade, we have seen the emerging field called “Immunometabolism”, which focuses on alterations in cell metabolism or metabolic reprogramming directing the activation of immune cells including monocytes, macrophages, T cells, dendritic cells, etc. Now, accumulating evidences are indicating the critical roles of cellular metabolisms in initiating and even sustaining the immune cell activation.

Mammalian cells contain a variety of lipid molecules (thousands of different types), which constitute about 10% of the cellular dry weight. In the specialized lipid storage organ such as adipose tissue, lipids or fat could constitute up to more than 90% of the tissue weight. The heterogeneity of the cellular lipid molecules is in agreement with their diverse functions for the cells ranging from membrane structure (e.g. phospholipids, cholesterol, and glycolipids), energy storage (e.g. triglycerides), to intracellular and extracellular signaling (e.g. oxysterols, phosphoinositides, and prostaglandins). Interestingly, the lipid metabolisms in various cells, especially immune cells like macrophage and T cells, are shown to coupled with immune functions.

The aim of this Research Topic is to gather scientific contributions (Review or Research Articles) from any groups working on the crosstalk between lipid metabolisms and inflammation.

Specific topics are listed below but are not limited to:
1) Lipid-related metabolisms and chronic inflammation.
2) Lipid-related metabolisms and immune cell regulation.
3) Lipid-related metabolisms in any cell types that influence systemic inflammation.
4) The role of lipid-related metabolisms in metabolic diseases.

Keywords: Lipid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammation, innate immunity, adaptive immunity, metabolic diseases, atherosclerosis, mitochondria

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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