The Role of Pyruvate Metabolism in Mitochondrial Quality Control and Inflammation

• Published in: Molecules and cells Vol. 46; no. 5; pp. 259 - 267
• Main Authors: Kim, Min-Ji, Lee, Hoyul, Chanda, Dipanjan, Thoudam, Themis, Kang, Hyeon-Ji, Harris, Robert A, Lee, In-Kyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 31.05.2023; 한국분자세포생물학회
• Subjects: Humans; Inflammation - metabolism; Insulin Resistance; Minireview; Mitochondria - metabolism; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Acetyl-Transferring Kinase - metabolism; Pyruvates - metabolism; 생물학; mitochondria-associated membranes; macrophage; pyruvate dehydrogenase complex; mitochondria quality control; T cell; pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase
• ISSN: 1016-8478; 0219-1032
• DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2023.2128

Pyruvate metabolism, a key pathway in glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, is crucial for energy homeostasis and mitochondrial quality control (MQC), including fusion/fission dynamics and mitophagy. Alterations in pyruvate flux and MQC are associated with reactive oxygen species accumulation and Ca flux into the mitochondria, which can induce mitochondrial ultrastructural changes, mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic dysregulation. Perturbations in MQC are emerging as a central mechanism for the pathogenesis of various metabolic diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and insulin resistance-related diseases. Mitochondrial Ca regulates the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC), which is central to pyruvate metabolism, by promoting its dephosphorylation. Increase of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) is associated with perturbation of mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs) function and Ca flux. Pyruvate metabolism also plays an important role in immune cell activation and function, dysregulation of which also leads to insulin resistance and inflammatory disease. Pyruvate metabolism affects macrophage polarization, mitochondrial dynamics and MAM formation, which are critical in determining macrophage function and immune response. MAMs and MQCs have also been intensively studied in macrophage and T cell immunity. Metabolic reprogramming connected with pyruvate metabolism, mitochondrial dynamics and MAM formation are important to macrophages polarization (M1/M2) and function. T cell differentiation is also directly linked to pyruvate metabolism, with inhibition of pyruvate oxidation by PDKs promoting proinflammatory T cell polarization. This article provides a brief review on the emerging role of pyruvate metabolism in MQC and MAM function, and how dysfunction in these processes leads to metabolic and inflammatory diseases.