Immunometabolism Research

Recent efforts to understand the unique metabolic features of the tumor microenvironment have invariably revealed a complex interplay between the epithelial, stromal, and immune compartments of the tumor.  These interactions take place on many fronts, from competition for nutrients and oxygen, to direct reprogramming via metabolic and signaling crosstalk mechanisms.  Among the immune cell population, tumor associated macrophages have emerged as critical effectors in the tumor microenvironment through protumorigenic signaling, immunosuppression, and chemoresistance mechanisms.  In the Lyssiotis lab, we explore the metabolism of these macrophages, with a  particular focus on the crosstalk between compartments of the tumor, and examine how the disruption of these pathways can lead to new therapeutic opportunities.