Metabolism and Autoimmune Responses: The microRNA Connection.
Distinct metabolic pathways are known to regulate growth, differentiation, survival, and activation of immune cells by providing energy and specific biosynthetic precursors. Compelling experimental evidence demonstrates that effector T cell functions are coupled with profound changes in cellular metabolism. Importantly, the effector T cell-dependent "anti-self" response characterizing the autoimmune diseases is accompanied by significant metabolic alterations. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), evolutionary conserved small non-coding RNA molecules that affect gene expression by binding to target messenger RNAs, are now known to regulate multiple functions of effector T cells, including the strength of their activation, thus contributing to immune homeostasis. In this review, we will examine the most recent studies that describe miRNA direct involvement in the metabolic reprogramming that marks effector T cell functions. In particular, we will focus on the work showing a connection between miRNA regulatory function and the molecular network dysregulation that leads to metabolic pathway derangement in autoimmunity. Finally, we will also speculate on the possibility that the interplay between miRNAs and metabolism in T cells may help identify novel miRNA-based therapeutic strategies to treat effector T cell immunometabolic alterations in pathological conditions such as autoimmunity and chronic inflammation.
['Colamatteo|Alessandra|A|', 'Micillo|Teresa|T|', 'Bruzzaniti|Sara|S|', 'Fusco|Clorinda|C|', 'Garavelli|Silvia|S|', 'De Rosa|Veronica|V|', 'Galgani|Mario|M|', 'Spagnuolo|Maria Immacolata|MI|', 'Di Rella|Francesca|F|', 'Puca|Annibale A|AA|', 'de Candia|Paola|P|', 'Matarese|Giuseppe|G|']
D000818:Animals D001327:Autoimmune Diseases D015551:Autoimmunity D065150:Cellular Reprogramming D004198:Disease Susceptibility D004734:Energy Metabolism D005786:Gene Expression Regulation D006801:Humans D035683:MicroRNAs D034622:RNA Interference D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets
T cells autoimmune diseases miRNAs immunometabolism metabolic regulation