Cytokine Networks in Metabolic Inflammation and Immunometabolism

Submission Deadline: 30 June 2027 View: 29 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editor(s)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Giribabu Nelli

Email: nelli.giribabu@gmail.com

Affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Homepage:

Research Interests: cytokine, reproductive endocrinology, diabetes, obesity, and natural products

Summary

Rationale and Background
Metabolic inflammation (metaflammation) has emerged as a fundamental mechanism linking obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cardiovascular diseases, and other chronic disorders. Unlike acute inflammation, metabolic inflammation is characterized by persistent, low-grade activation of immune pathways driven by nutrient excess, altered metabolism, tissue stress, and dysregulated immune responses.

Cytokines play central roles in orchestrating these inflammatory processes. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-17, and interferons contribute to insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction, adipose tissue inflammation, and organ damage. Conversely, anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL-10, IL-4, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) participate in maintaining immune and metabolic homeostasis. Recent evidence indicates that complex cytokine networks, rather than individual cytokines, regulate immune cell metabolism, tissue-specific inflammation, and disease progression.

The rapidly growing field of immunometabolism has further highlighted how metabolic pathways govern immune cell activation, differentiation, and function. Reciprocal interactions between cytokine signaling and cellular metabolism influence macrophage polarization, T-cell responses, adipose tissue remodeling, hepatic inflammation, gut-immune communication, and cardiovascular health. Understanding these interactions is critical for identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases.

Aim of the Special Issue
This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in understanding how cytokine networks regulate metabolic inflammation and immunometabolism across a broad spectrum of chronic metabolic diseases. It will provide insights into molecular mechanisms, disease biomarkers, emerging therapeutic targets, and translational approaches that bridge basic science and clinical applications.

Scope and Topics of Interest
We welcome high-quality original research articles, reviews, and mini-reviews addressing, but not limited to, the following topics:
Cytokine Biology and Signaling
· Cytokine networks in metabolic tissues
· Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in metabolic regulation
· Cytokine signaling pathways and metabolic homeostasis
· Cross-talk between cytokines and metabolic sensors
· Cytokine-mediated tissue remodeling
Immunometabolism
· Metabolic regulation of immune cell function
· Immunometabolic reprogramming of macrophages and lymphocytes
· Cytokines and immune-cell metabolic adaptation
· Mitochondrial metabolism and inflammatory signaling
· Cytokine-mediated nutrient sensing in immune responses
Obesity and Adipose Tissue Inflammation
· Cytokine-mediated adipose tissue dysfunction
· Adipokines and inflammatory cytokines
· Immune cell infiltration in obesity
· Obesity-associated immunometabolic disorders
· Brown and beige adipose tissue inflammation
Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome
· Cytokines in insulin resistance
· Inflammatory pathways in type 2 diabetes
· Pancreatic islet inflammation
· Cytokine biomarkers for diabetes progression
· Metabolic syndrome and immune dysregulation
Liver and Gastrointestinal Disorders
· Cytokines in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
· Gut microbiota–cytokine interactions
· Intestinal inflammation and metabolic disease
· Gut-liver axis in immunometabolism
Cardiovascular and Renal Complications
· Cytokines in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular inflammation
· Immunometabolic mechanisms in hypertension
· Cytokine-mediated renal injury in metabolic diseases
· Inflammatory biomarkers in cardiometabolic risk
Novel Therapeutic Strategies
· Cytokine-targeted therapies
· Biologics and cytokine modulators
· Small-molecule interventions targeting cytokine-mediated immunometabolic signaling
· Natural products and anti-inflammatory compounds targeting cytokine signaling and immunometabolic pathways
· Precision medicine approaches targeting cytokine pathways
Emerging Technologies
· Multi-omics approaches to cytokine network analysis
· Single-cell technologies in immunometabolism
· Systems biology integrated with experimental cytokine validation
· Artificial intelligence cytokine biomarker discovery supported by biological validation
· Translational and clinical studies

Keywords