Glutamine metabolism remodels tumor-associated macrophage: mechanistic explorations and new strategies in translational medicine

Glutamine metabolism provides energy and raw materials for tumor survival and proliferation. In addition to affecting cancer cells, many studies have investigated the role of glutamine metabolism on the tumor microenvironment in depth. The macrophages, which show high frequently distribution in the majority of solid tumors, are important immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Tumor-associated macrophage metabolic network remodeling is enormous and complicated. This review links TAM with glutamine metabolism, and combs the network relationship between the unique functional state of macrophages and the key programs of glutamine metabolism in terms of epigenetic modification, signaling pathway transduction, and metabolic checkpoint regulation. In addition, we will summarize the existing glutamine metabolism-targeting drugs and explore the new technologies and strategies for glutamine metabolism to regulate the functional state of TAM.