Carbon metabolism in the regulation of macrophage functions

One-carbon (1C) metabolism, central carbon metabolism, and epigenetic modifications are dynamically altered in macrophages under stimulation.Metabolites of carbon metabolism could modify signaling pathways in macrophages to respond in a timely manner to external stimuli through epigenetic modification.Amino acids and mammalian target of rapamycin signaling regulate epigenetic modification in macrophages via 1C metabolism.Tumor cells shape carbon metabolism in the tumor microenvironment to orchestrate the epigenetic modification of tumor-associated macrophages. Carbon metabolism, including one-carbon (1C) metabolism and central carbon metabolism (CCM), provides energy for the cell and generates metabolites with signaling activities. The regulation of macrophage polarization involves complex signals and includes an epigenetic level. Epigenetic modifications through changes in carbon metabolism allow macrophages to respond in a timely manner to their environment and adapt to metabolic demands during macrophage polarization. Here we summarize the current understanding of the crosstalk between carbon metabolism and epigenetic modifications in macrophages under physiological conditions and in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and provide targets and further directions for macrophage-associated diseases. Carbon metabolism, including one-carbon (1C) metabolism and central carbon metabolism (CCM), provides energy for the cell and generates metabolites with signaling activities. The regulation of macrophage polarization involves complex signals and includes an epigenetic level. Epigenetic modifications through changes in carbon metabolism allow macrophages to respond in a timely manner to their environment and adapt to metabolic demands during macrophage polarization. Here we summarize the current understanding of the crosstalk between carbon metabolism and epigenetic modifications in macrophages under physiological conditions and in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and provide targets and further directions for macrophage-associated diseases.