Soluble Carrier Transporters and Mitochondria in the Immunometabolic Regulation of Macrophages

Immunometabolic regulation of macrophages is a growing area of research across many fields. Here, we review the contribution of solute carriers (SLCs) in regulating macrophage metabolism. We also highlight key mechanisms that regulate SLC function, their effects on mitochondrial activity, and how these intracellular activities contribute to macrophage fitness in health and disease. SLCs serve as a major drug absorption pathway and represent a novel category of therapeutic drug targets. SLC dynamics affect cellular nutritional sensors, such as AMP-activated protein kinase and mammalian target of rapamycin, and consequently alter the cellular metabolism and mitochondrial dynamics within macrophages to adapt to a new functional phenotype. SLC function affects macrophage phenotype, but their mechanisms of action and how their functions contribute to host health remain incompletely defined. Few studies focus on the impact of solute transporters on macrophage function. Identifying which SLCs are present in macrophages and determining their functional roles may reveal novel therapeutic targets with which to treat metabolic and inflammatory diseases. 36, 906-919.