A systems biology approach to nutritional immunology - Focus on innate immunity

Nicole J. Afacan; Christopher D. Fjell; Robert E.W. Hancock

doi:10.1016/j.mam.2011.10.013

A systems biology approach to nutritional immunology - Focus on innate immunity

Nicole J. Afacan, Christopher D. Fjell, Robert E.W. Hancock

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Innate immunity and nutrient metabolism are complex biological systems that must work in concert to sustain and preserve life. The effector cells of the innate immune system rely on essential nutrients to generate energy, produce metabolic precursors for macromolecule biosynthesis and tune their responses to infectious agents. Thus disruptions to nutritional status have a substantial impact on immune competence and can result in increased susceptibility to infection in the case of nutrient deficiency, or chronic inflammation in the case of over-nutrition. The traditional, reductionist methods used in the study of nutritional immunology are incapable of exploring the extremely complex interactions between nutrient metabolism and innate immunity. Here, we review a relatively new analytical approach, systems biology, and highlight how it can be applied to nutritional immunology to provide a comprehensive view of the mechanisms behind nutritional regulation of the innate immune system.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	14-25
Number of pages	12
Journal	Molecular Aspects of Medicine
Volume	33
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mam.2011.10.013
Publication status	Published or Issued - Feb 2012
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Innate immunity
Metabolomics
Nutrition
Proteomics
Systems biology
Transcriptomics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Biochemistry
Molecular Medicine
Molecular Biology
Clinical Biochemistry

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10.1016/j.mam.2011.10.013

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title = "A systems biology approach to nutritional immunology - Focus on innate immunity",

abstract = "Innate immunity and nutrient metabolism are complex biological systems that must work in concert to sustain and preserve life. The effector cells of the innate immune system rely on essential nutrients to generate energy, produce metabolic precursors for macromolecule biosynthesis and tune their responses to infectious agents. Thus disruptions to nutritional status have a substantial impact on immune competence and can result in increased susceptibility to infection in the case of nutrient deficiency, or chronic inflammation in the case of over-nutrition. The traditional, reductionist methods used in the study of nutritional immunology are incapable of exploring the extremely complex interactions between nutrient metabolism and innate immunity. Here, we review a relatively new analytical approach, systems biology, and highlight how it can be applied to nutritional immunology to provide a comprehensive view of the mechanisms behind nutritional regulation of the innate immune system.",

keywords = "Innate immunity, Metabolomics, Nutrition, Proteomics, Systems biology, Transcriptomics",

author = "Afacan, \{Nicole J.\} and Fjell, \{Christopher D.\} and Hancock, \{Robert E.W.\}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors are grateful for the financial support provided by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health , the Bill \& Melinda Gates Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research through the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative , and Genome BC for the Pathogenomics of Innate Immunity research program. R.E.W.H. is the recipient of a Canada Research Chair. N.J.A. holds a studentship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. C.D.F. holds a fellowship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.",

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doi = "10.1016/j.mam.2011.10.013",

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AU - Afacan, Nicole J.

AU - Fjell, Christopher D.

AU - Hancock, Robert E.W.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors are grateful for the financial support provided by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health , the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research through the Grand Challenges in Global Health initiative , and Genome BC for the Pathogenomics of Innate Immunity research program. R.E.W.H. is the recipient of a Canada Research Chair. N.J.A. holds a studentship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. C.D.F. holds a fellowship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

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N2 - Innate immunity and nutrient metabolism are complex biological systems that must work in concert to sustain and preserve life. The effector cells of the innate immune system rely on essential nutrients to generate energy, produce metabolic precursors for macromolecule biosynthesis and tune their responses to infectious agents. Thus disruptions to nutritional status have a substantial impact on immune competence and can result in increased susceptibility to infection in the case of nutrient deficiency, or chronic inflammation in the case of over-nutrition. The traditional, reductionist methods used in the study of nutritional immunology are incapable of exploring the extremely complex interactions between nutrient metabolism and innate immunity. Here, we review a relatively new analytical approach, systems biology, and highlight how it can be applied to nutritional immunology to provide a comprehensive view of the mechanisms behind nutritional regulation of the innate immune system.

AB - Innate immunity and nutrient metabolism are complex biological systems that must work in concert to sustain and preserve life. The effector cells of the innate immune system rely on essential nutrients to generate energy, produce metabolic precursors for macromolecule biosynthesis and tune their responses to infectious agents. Thus disruptions to nutritional status have a substantial impact on immune competence and can result in increased susceptibility to infection in the case of nutrient deficiency, or chronic inflammation in the case of over-nutrition. The traditional, reductionist methods used in the study of nutritional immunology are incapable of exploring the extremely complex interactions between nutrient metabolism and innate immunity. Here, we review a relatively new analytical approach, systems biology, and highlight how it can be applied to nutritional immunology to provide a comprehensive view of the mechanisms behind nutritional regulation of the innate immune system.

KW - Innate immunity

KW - Metabolomics

KW - Nutrition

KW - Proteomics

KW - Systems biology

KW - Transcriptomics

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AN - SCOPUS:84655169635

SN - 0098-2997

VL - 33

SP - 14

EP - 25

JO - Molecular Aspects of Medicine

JF - Molecular Aspects of Medicine

IS - 1

ER -

A systems biology approach to nutritional immunology - Focus on innate immunity

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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