title: Itaconic Acid: The Surprising Role of an Industrial Compound as a Mammalian Antimicrobial Metabolite.
abstract: Itaconic acid is well known as a precursor for polymer synthesis and has been involved in industrial processes for decades. In a recent surprising discovery, itaconic acid was found to play a role as an immune-supportive metabolite in mammalian immune cells, where it is synthesized as an antimicrobial compound from the citric acid cycle intermediate cis-aconitic acid. Although the immune-responsive gene 1 protein (IRG1) has been associated to immune response without a mechanistic function, the critical link to itaconic acid production through an enzymatic function of this protein was only recently revealed. In this review, we highlight the history of itaconic acid as an industrial and antimicrobial compound, starting with its biotechnological synthesis and ending with its antimicrobial function in mammalian immune cells.
authors.affiliation: Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, L-4362 Esch-Belval, Luxembourg; email: alessandro.michelucci@uni.lu , karsten.hiller@uni.lu.
authors.forename: Thekla
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cordes
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michelucci
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hiller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases; D002952:Citric Acid Cycle; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D015870:Gene Expression; D006038:Glyoxylates / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D007249:Inflammation; D008293:Malates / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008322:Mammals; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013386:Succinates / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D006038:Glyoxylates; D008293:Malates; D011506:Proteins; D013386:Succinates; C561544:ACOD1 protein, human; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases; C011729:citramalate; C031150:glyoxylic acid; C005229:itaconic acid
keywords: cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase; immune-responsive gene 1 protein (IRG1); inflammation; macrophage; metabolic immunity; metabolism