Abstract

It is now evident that an integral component of immune regulation is through the metabolic pathways necessary to support energetically demanding protective or pathogenic responses. Deciphering these links in the emerging field of immunometabolism is critical to understanding basic immune function. Activation, differentiation and function of M1 & M2 macrophages, Th1, Th2, Th17 & T regulatory T cells as well as effector and memory CD8 T cells are all inexorably linked to pathways that regulate cellular metabolism. Likewise, systemic metabolism and metabolic diseases are very much influenced by immunity, as the metabolic syndrome in obesity is mediated in part by dysregulated immune cells similar to inflammatory and autoimmune disease states. This meeting addresses how immune cells and functions rely upon and are controlled by specific metabolic pathways and nutrient availability and will bridge systemic and cellular metabolic regulation of immune function. Metabolic reprogramming in the activation of adaptive and innate immune cells and the regulation and role of specific metabolic programs in distinct lymphocyte or macrophage subsets will be addressed. The conference will also present new findings on signaling pathways and the influence of immune cell metabolism on anti-tumor immunity, autoimmunity and metabolic diseases. It is anticipated this meeting will be of broad interest to the immunology and metabolic communities. The focus of this meeting on how factors that influence immune cell metabolism impact a variety of inflammatory disorders will provide new fundamental insight into normal immune function as well as opportunities to treat immunological and metabolic diseases. This meeting is being held jointly with  New Frontiers in Understanding Tumor Metabolism.