1. Figure 1 Immune cell metabolism during homeostasis
Figure 1 | Immune cell metabolism during homeostasis. Immune cells need energy in the form of ATP to survive, grow, reproduce and perform specific functions. Glucose is imported into the cytosol via glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1), where it is converted to pyruvate over a series of enzymatic steps known as glycolysis. After transfer to the mitochondria, pyruvate is converted to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle substrate, acetyl-CoA. In resting, long-lived immune cells, such as regulatory T cells or memory T cells, acetyl-CoA is also produced by fatty acid oxidation. Pyruvate is ultimately metabolized to CO2, generating NADH and FADH2. These two reducing agents drive the electron transport chain (ETC) in a process called oxidative phosphorylation, by donating electrons and providing hydrogen molecules for the creation of water. This process builds a proton gradient that ultimately generates ATP through the phosphorylation of ADP.
Gaber, T. et al. (2017) Metabolic regulation of inflammation
Nat. Rev. Rheumatol. doi: /nrrheum