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Immunometabolism: an emerging frontier

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Abstract

Immunometabolism is an emerging field of investigation at the interface between the historically distinct disciplines of immunology and metabolism. Accelerating interest in this area is being fuelled by the obesity epidemic and the relatively recent realization that obesity affects the immune system and promotes inflammation, and that obesity-induced inflammation potentially promotes a variety of chronic conditions and diseases. The multilevel interactions between the metabolic and immune systems suggest pathogenic mechanisms that may underlie many of the downstream complications of obesity and offer substantial therapeutic promise.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Diane Mathis

  2. Joslin Diabetes Center and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02215, Massachusetts, USA

    Steven E. Shoelson

Authors
  1. Diane Mathis
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  2. Steven E. Shoelson
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Competing interests

Diane Mathis is a member of the Scientific Advisory Boards of Tempero Pharmaceuticals and Catabasis Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Steven E. Shoelson holds patents on the use of salicylates in diabetes, prediabetes and cardiovascular disease. He has consulted for Catabasis, Amylin, AstraZeneca, Merck, Genentech, XOMA and Kowa

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Mathis, D., Shoelson, S. Immunometabolism: an emerging frontier. Nat Rev Immunol 11, 81–83 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nri2922

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