The hypoxia-lactate axis tempers inflammation

Nat Rev Immunol. 2020 Feb;20(2):85-86. doi: 10.1038/s41577-019-0259-8.

Abstract

Hypoxia and glycolysis have long been appreciated to promote immune cell activation. In 2019, several studies highlighted a counterbalancing homeostatic function for the glycolytic metabolite lactate. Lactate directly suppresses signalling pathways and modifies histones to play an important role in regulating macrophage polarization, tumour immunity and antiviral responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Glycolysis
  • Histone Code
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / immunology*
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / immunology*
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Interferons / immunology
  • Lactic Acid / immunology*
  • Lactic Acid / metabolism
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Virus Diseases / immunology*

Substances

  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Lactic Acid
  • Interferons