Systematic review of glycolytic reprogramming in macrophages during bacterial infection reveals metabolic-immune coupling mechanisms.

This systematic review investigated the relationship between glycolytic reprogramming and immune responses within macrophages in the context of bacterial infection. The review focused on how metabolic networks influence immune function during infection.

The main findings suggest that metabolic remodeling serves as an integral immunoregulatory platform. Key metabolic components are shown to couple metabolic flux with inflammatory gene transcription, effectively balancing inflammasome activation against interferon responses. Furthermore, metabolites mediate immunomodulation through post-translational modifications, while diverse bacterial pathogens exploit these metabolic networks for immune evasion.

The review notes that immunological consequences of these metabolic shifts remain incompletely defined. Consequently, while the review identifies novel targetable pathways and offers a conceptual framework for developing innovative therapeutic strategies against persistent and antibiotic-resistant infections, direct clinical translation remains uncertain due to the lack of defined outcomes and safety profiles.

The practice relevance of this work lies in its identification of novel targetable pathways, offering a conceptual framework for developing innovative therapeutic strategies against persistent and antibiotic-resistant infections.