Insight on the impacts of free amino acids and their metabolites on the immune system from a perspective of inborn errors of amino acid metabolism

TY - JOUR

T1 - Insight on the impacts of free amino acids and their metabolites on the immune system from a perspective of inborn errors of amino acid metabolism

AU - Pakula, Malgorzata M

AU - Maier, Thorsten J

AU - Vorup-Jensen, Thomas

PY - 2017/6/3

Y1 - 2017/6/3

N2 - Introduction: Amino acids (AAs) support a broad range of functions in living organisms, including several that affect the immune system. The functions of the immune system are affected when free AAs are depleted or in excess because of external factors, such as starvation, or because of genetic factors, such as inborn errors of metabolism. Areas covered: In this review, we discuss the current insights into how free AAs affect immune responses. When possible, we make comparisons to known disease states resulting from inborn errors of metabolism, in which changed levels of AAs or AA metabolites provide insight into the impact of AAs on the human immune system in vivo. We also explore the literature describing how changes in AA levels might provide pharmaceutical targets for safe immunomodulatory treatment. Expert opinion: The impact of free AAs on the immune system is a neglected topic in most immunology textbooks. That neglect is undeserved, because free AAs have both direct and indirect effects on the immune system. Consistent choices of pre-clinical models and better strategies for creating formulations are required to gain clinical impact.

AB - Introduction: Amino acids (AAs) support a broad range of functions in living organisms, including several that affect the immune system. The functions of the immune system are affected when free AAs are depleted or in excess because of external factors, such as starvation, or because of genetic factors, such as inborn errors of metabolism. Areas covered: In this review, we discuss the current insights into how free AAs affect immune responses. When possible, we make comparisons to known disease states resulting from inborn errors of metabolism, in which changed levels of AAs or AA metabolites provide insight into the impact of AAs on the human immune system in vivo. We also explore the literature describing how changes in AA levels might provide pharmaceutical targets for safe immunomodulatory treatment. Expert opinion: The impact of free AAs on the immune system is a neglected topic in most immunology textbooks. That neglect is undeserved, because free AAs have both direct and indirect effects on the immune system. Consistent choices of pre-clinical models and better strategies for creating formulations are required to gain clinical impact.

KW - Amino Acids

KW - Animals

KW - Humans

KW - Immune System

KW - Immunologic Factors

KW - Journal Article

KW - Metabolism, Inborn Errors

KW - Molecular Targeted Therapy

KW - Review

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85019616513

U2 - 10.1080/14728222.2017.1323879

DO - 10.1080/14728222.2017.1323879

M3 - Review

C2 - 28441889

SN - 1472-8222

VL - 21

SP - 611

EP - 626

JO - Expert Opinion On Therapeutic Targets

JF - Expert Opinion On Therapeutic Targets

IS - 6

ER -