REVIEW
Solute carrier transporters: the metabolic gatekeepers of immune cells

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsb.2019.12.006Get rights and content
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Abstract

Solute carrier (SLC) transporters meditate many essential physiological functions, including nutrient uptake, ion influx/efflux, and waste disposal. In its protective role against tumors and infections, the mammalian immune system coordinates complex signals to support the proliferation, differentiation, and effector function of individual cell subsets. Recent research in this area has yielded surprising findings on the roles of solute carrier transporters, which were discovered to regulate lymphocyte signaling and control their differentiation, function, and fate by modulating diverse metabolic pathways and balanced levels of different metabolites. In this review, we present current information mainly on glucose transporters, amino-acid transporters, and metal ion transporters, which are critically important for mediating immune cell homeostasis in many different pathological conditions.

Graphical abstract

Solute carrier (SLC) transporters meditate many essential physiological functions. In this review, we present current information mainly on glucose transporters, amino-acid transporters, and metal ion transporters, which are critically important for mediating immune cell homeostasis in many different pathological conditions.

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Key words

Solute carrier
Lymphocytes
Glucose
Glutamine
Metal ion

Abbreviations

3-PG
3-phosphoglyceric acid
ABC
ATP-binding cassette
AIF
apoptosis-inducing factor
α-KG
α-ketoglutaric acid
AP-1
activator protein 1
ASCT2
alanine serine and cysteine transporter system 2
ATP
adenosine triphosphate
BCR
B cell receptor
BMDMs
bone marrow-derived macrophages
CD45R
a receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase
CTL
cytotoxic T lymphocytes
DC
dendritic cells
EAATs
excitatory amino acid transporters
ER
endoplasmic reticulum
ERRα
estrogen related receptor alpha
FFA
free fatty acids
G-6-P
glucose 6-phosphate
GLUT
glucose transporters
GSH
glutathione
HIF-1α
hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha
HIV-1
human immunodeficiency virus type 1
Hk1
hexokinase-1
IFNβ
interferon beta
IFNγ
interferon gamma
IKK
IκB kinase
IKKβ
IκB kinase beta subunit
IL
interleukin
iNOS
inducible nitric oxide synthase
iTregs
induced regulatory T cells
LDHA
lactate dehydrogenase A
LPS
lipopolysaccharide
Lyn
tyrosine-protein kinase
MAPK
mitogen-activated protein kinase
MCT
monocarboxylate transporters
MS
multiple sclerosis
mTORC1
mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1
NADPH
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
NF-κB
nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells
NO
nitric oxide
NOD2
nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2
PEG2
prostaglandin E2
Pfk
phosphofructokinase
PI-3K/AKT
phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase/serine–threonine kinase
PPP
pentose phosphate pathway
RA
rheumatoid arthritis
RLR
RIG-I-like receptor
ROS
reactive oxygen species
SLC
solute carrier
SLE
systemic lupus erythematosus
SNAT
sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporters
STAT
signal transducers and activators of transcription
TAMs
tumor-associated macrophages
TCR
T cell receptor
TCA
tricarboxylic acid
Teffs
effector T cells
Th1/2/17
type 1/2/17 helper T cells
TLR
toll-like receptor
TNF
tumor necrosis factor
Tregs
regulatory T cells
TRPM7
transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 7
VEGF
vascular endothelial growth factor
ZIP
zrt/irt-like proteins

Cited by (0)

Peer review under responsibility of Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

These authors made equal contributions to this work.