Editorial: Understanding the effects of metabolites and trace minerals on microbes during infection

Article Cell Biology

Staphylococcus aureus stimulates neutrophil itaconate production that suppresses the oxidative burst

Kira L. Tomlinson et al.

Summary: Neutrophils play a critical role in defending against Staphylococcus aureus infection. However, S. aureus can still evade immune clearance even in the presence of a strong neutrophil response. This study reveals that S. aureus impairs neutrophil function by inducing the production of the anti-inflammatory metabolite itaconate. Itaconate inhibits neutrophil glycolysis and oxidative burst, leading to compromised bacterial killing. This evasion mechanism involves targeting neutrophil metabolism and inducing the production of itaconate.

CELL REPORTS (2023)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Macrophage fumarate hydratase restrains mtRNA-mediated interferon production

Alexander Hooftman et al.

Summary: Metabolic rewiring through an inflammatory aspartate-argininosuccinate shunt induces fumarate-mediated protein succination and inflammatory effects in macrophages. Inhibition of fumarate hydratase (FH) increases fumarate levels, suppresses mitochondrial respiration, and enhances interferon responses. FH inhibition may play a pathogenic role in systemic lupus erythematosus. These findings highlight the importance of FH in regulating macrophage functions and cytokine responses.

NATURE (2023)

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Editorial Material Oncology

Whole-genome sequencing of East Asian lung cancers reveals new germline pathogenic variants

Semanti Mukherjee et al.

Summary: In this study, Wang et al. used whole-genome sequencing to comprehensively analyze common and rare variants associated with lung cancer risk in individuals with East Asian ancestry. Their findings suggest that rare promoter variants in the BRCA2 gene are associated with an increased risk of lung cancer.

CANCER CELL (2022)

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Article Cell Biology

Klebsiella pneumoniae induces host metabolic stress that promotes tolerance to pulmonary infection

Tania Wong Fok Lung et al.

Summary: Kp ST258 induces disease-tolerant immune response through host metabolic activity, leading to persistent infection.

CELL METABOLISM (2022)

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Review Medicine, Research & Experimental

The role of itaconate in host defense and inflammation

Christian G. Peace et al.

Summary: Inflammatory stimuli cause metabolic reprogramming in macrophages, particularly in the Krebs cycle, resulting in the accumulation of itaconate and other metabolites. Itaconate plays diverse roles in immunity and inflammation, including inhibiting inflammasome activation and glycolysis, activating anti-inflammatory transcription factors, and exerting anti-inflammatory effects in various disease models.

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION (2022)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Staphylococcus aureus induces an itaconate-dominated immunometabolic response that drives biofilm formation

Kira L. Tomlinson et al.

Summary: The authors demonstrate that the pathogen Staphylococcus aureus induces a distinct airway immunometabolic response dominated by the release of itaconate. This metabolite potentiates extracellular polysaccharide synthesis and biofilm formation in S. aureus, potentially facilitating chronic infection.

NATURE COMMUNICATIONS (2021)

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Article Microbiology