When we consume fats (also called lipids) in our diet, they can be metabolised or stored to provide energy for the body. But they are also involved in regulating the genes expressed within, and the signalling between, cells. Lipids influence how our cells behave and function, which affects many processes in the body including the immune system.

Though researchers are now aware that lipids help regulate immune cell behaviour, there is little understanding of how specific mechanisms and lipid molecules are involved. To address this gap in our knowledge, researchers from the School of Immunology & Microbial Sciences looked at how lipids affect the immune system.

The paper, recently published in Nature Communications, investigated the role of lipids in controlling macrophages. These are cells of the innate immune system that patrol the body to ingest and destroy microbes, toxic chemicals, and dead/cancerous cells in a process called phagocytosis. They can also help coordinate a wider immune response by sending signals to other immune cells.

The researchers, led by Phillip Brailey and Lauren Evans under the supervision of Patricia Barral, identified a direct link between macrophages and a lipid molecular pathway. Lipid pathways trigger a chemical signal in the macrophage that influences its activation and behaviour, making it more responsive to signals from the immune system.

When researchers modified the lipid pathway in macrophages, they also found the changes affected its behaviour. Specifically, the changes made macrophages less responsive to immune signals, affecting the overall immune response. This shows how immune cells can be influenced by modifications to the lipid-dependent pathway.

Mr Tom ap Rees

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Barral Research Group

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