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Published in: Journal of Hematology & Oncology 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Cancer Immunotherapy | Review

Amino acid metabolism in immune cells: essential regulators of the effector functions, and promising opportunities to enhance cancer immunotherapy

Authors: Luming Yang, Zhaole Chu, Meng Liu, Qiang Zou, Jinyang Li, Qin Liu, Yazhou Wang, Tao Wang, Junyu Xiang, Bin Wang

Published in: Journal of Hematology & Oncology | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Amino acids are basic nutrients for immune cells during organ development, tissue homeostasis, and the immune response. Regarding metabolic reprogramming in the tumor microenvironment, dysregulation of amino acid consumption in immune cells is an important underlying mechanism leading to impaired anti-tumor immunity. Emerging studies have revealed that altered amino acid metabolism is tightly linked to tumor outgrowth, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance through governing the fate of various immune cells. During these processes, the concentration of free amino acids, their membrane bound transporters, key metabolic enzymes, and sensors such as mTOR and GCN2 play critical roles in controlling immune cell differentiation and function. As such, anti-cancer immune responses could be enhanced by supplement of specific essential amino acids, or targeting the metabolic enzymes or their sensors, thereby developing novel adjuvant immune therapeutic modalities. To further dissect metabolic regulation of anti-tumor immunity, this review summarizes the regulatory mechanisms governing reprogramming of amino acid metabolism and their effects on the phenotypes and functions of tumor-infiltrating immune cells to propose novel approaches that could be exploited to rewire amino acid metabolism and enhance cancer immunotherapy.
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Metadata
Title
Amino acid metabolism in immune cells: essential regulators of the effector functions, and promising opportunities to enhance cancer immunotherapy
Authors
Luming Yang
Zhaole Chu
Meng Liu
Qiang Zou
Jinyang Li
Qin Liu
Yazhou Wang
Tao Wang
Junyu Xiang
Bin Wang
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Hematology & Oncology / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1756-8722
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-023-01453-1

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