title: Metabolites: deciphering the molecular language between DCs and their environment.
abstract: Dendritic cells (DCs) determine the outcome of the immune response based on signals they receive from the environment. Presentation of antigen under various contexts can lead to activation and differentiation of T cells for immunity or dampening of immune responses by establishing tolerance, primarily through the priming of regulatory T cells. Infections, inflammation and normal cellular interactions shape DC responses through direct contact or via cytokine signaling. Although it is widely accepted that DCs sense microbial components through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), increasing evidence advocates for the existence of a set of signals that can profoundly shape DC function via PRR-independent pathways. This diverse group of host- or commensal-derived metabolites represents a newly appreciated code from which DCs can interpret environmental cues. In this review, we discuss the existing information on the effect of some of the most studied metabolites on DC function, together with the implications this may have in immune-mediated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection Immunology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Feodor-Lynen Straße 7, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minarrieta
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection Immunology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Feodor-Lynen Straße 7, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Peyman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghorbani
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection Immunology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Feodor-Lynen Straße 7, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sparwasser
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection Immunology, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Medical School Hannover (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Feodor-Lynen Straße 7, 30625, Hannover, Germany. berod.luciana@mh-hannover.de.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berod
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D055442:Metabolome; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Dendritic cells; Metabolism; Metabolites; Microbiota; Tolerance; Vitamins