Immune cells have a metabolic backup plan for accessing their anti-cancer playbook

Myeloid immune cells alongside red blood cells in an electron micrograph of human blood. Credit: National Cancer Institute Immune cells use two different routes to produce acetyl-CoA, an essential metabolite required to fight infection and cancer, reports a study led by Van Andel Institute scientists. The findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, could help improve immunotherapies by revealing how diet can boost immune cell function. “Like any good system, immune cells have a plan A and a plan B,” said Russell Jones, Ph.D., the study’s corresponding author and chair of VAI’s Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming. “We’ve pinpointed Read More