Regulation and Activation of Immune Cells through the Mitochondria
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2024 | Viewed by 1300
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Following the discovery of the Krebs cycle in the 1950s, mitochondria were primarily linked to cellular bioenergetics. However, in the 1990s, a shift in perspective occurred as research demonstrated mitochondria significant involvement in apoptotic cell death. These findings paved the way to the idea that these organelles have a role in cell signaling, as now confirmed by many publications. Consequently, mitochondria have been implicated in numerous intricate cellular processes extending beyond cell death, including autophagy, stem cell differentiation, and the regulation of immune responses such as activation.
Activation of immune cells, as one of the key regulation processes of immune cells, is critically dependent on specific metabolic programs with mitochondria involvement. Upon activation by a virus, bacteria or their products, immune cells undergo dramatic metabolic changes, dictated by mitochondria, including the generation of ATP from the oxidation of nutrients and supplying precursors for the synthesis of macromolecules and post-translational modifications. This can cause changes in several metabolic pathways such as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and amino acid and lipid metabolism, leading to the accumulation of certain metabolites. When activated, T cells swiftly undergo proliferation and intensify gene transcription-translation processes to support essential immune responses, including the production of cytokines and adhesion molecules. Consequently, they must enhance their protein synthesis. Based on the activation state of various immune cells, including T cells, macrophages, and mast cells, mitochondria have been observed to undergo specific changes in their structural configurations, such as fusion or fission. All these alterations in metabolism of mitochondria aid the cells in combating invading pathogens, both through direct and indirect mechanisms.
This Special Issue is focused on the understanding regulation of different immune cells through mitochondria, how regulation of immune cells is impacting mitochondrial dynamics, biogenesis, mitophagy…. Additionally, how dysregulation of immune cells such as different forms of inflammation are affecting mitochondria phenotype in immune cells. Research papers, review, short communication, perspective articles exploring mitochondria and immune cells are welcome.
Dr. Špela Konjar
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- mitophagy in immune cells
- autophagy and mitochondria in immune cells
- fission and fusion of mitochondria in immune cells
- oxphos and mitochondria in immune cells
- glycolysis and mitochondria in immune cells
- tissue residency of immune cells and their mitochondria
- tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and their mitochondria
- mitochondria in inflammation
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