Glutaminolysis and Fumarate Accumulation Integrate Immunometabolic and Epigenetic Programs in Trained Immunity

Induction of trained immunity (innate immune memory) is mediated by activation of immune and metabolic pathways that result in epigenetic rewiring of cellular functional programs. Through network-level integration of transcriptomics and metabolomics data, we identify glycolysis, glutaminolysis, and the cholesterol synthesis pathway as indispensable for the induction of trained immunity by β-glucan in monocytes. Accumulation of fumarate, due to glutamine replenishment of the TCA cycle, integrates immune and metabolic circuits to induce monocyte epigenetic reprogramming by inhibiting KDM5 histone demethylases. Furthermore, fumarate itself induced an epigenetic program similar to β-glucan-induced trained immunity. In line with this, inhibition of glutaminolysis and cholesterol synthesis in mice reduced the induction of trained immunity by β-glucan. Identification of the metabolic pathways leading to induction of trained immunity contributes to our understanding of innate immune memory and opens new therapeutic avenues. [Display omitted] •Cellular metabolism undergoes major shifts in β-glucan-trained monocytes•Glucose, glutamine, and cholesterol metabolism are crucial in trained immunity•Accumulation of fumarate is essential for epigenetic changes in trained immunity As part of the IHEC consortium, Arts et al. dissect how metabolic pathways regulate epigenetic rewiring in trained immunity (innate immune memory). They show that glycolysis, glutaminolysis, and cholesterol metabolism are indispensable in trained monocytes and link fumarate accumulation to epigenetic changes. Explore the Cell Press IHEC webportal at http://www.cell.com/consortium/IHEC.