Decoding macrophage immunometabolism in human viral infection

Immune-metabolic interactions play a pivotal role in both host defense and susceptibility to various diseases. Immunometabolism, an interdisciplinary field, seeks to elucidate how metabolic processes impact the immune system. In the context of viral infections, macrophages are often exploited by viruses for their replication and propagation. These infections trigger significant metabolic reprogramming within macrophages and polarization of distinct M1 and M2 phenotypes. This metabolic reprogramming involves alterations in standard- pathways such as the Krebs cycle, glycolysis, lipid metabolism, the pentose phosphate pathway, and amino acid metabolism. Disruptions in the balance of key intermediates like spermidine, itaconate, and citrate within these pathways contribute to the severity of viral diseases. In this chapter, we describe the manipulation of metabolic pathways by viruses and how they crosstalk between signaling pathways to evade the immune system. This intricate interplay often involves the upregulation or downregulation of specific metabolites, making these molecules potential biomarkers for diseases like HIV, HCV, and SARS-CoV. Techniques such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Mass Spectrometry, are the evaluative ways to analyze these metabolites. Considering the importance of macrophages in the inflammatory response, addressing their metabolome holds great promise for the creating future therapeutic targets aimed at combating a wide spectrum of viral infections.