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Cell death

Lipidomes define immune cell identity

Nature Cell Biology volume 26, pages 516–518 (2024)Cite this article

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Diverse, specialized immune cells defend against pathogens and cancer cells. A new study reveals the comprehensive lipid compositions of these cells, with unique lipidomes associated with various immune cell types. They show that cell-specific lipid compositions determine a key functional phenotype: their susceptibility to ferroptosis.

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Fig. 1: Immune cells have distinct lipidomes which give rise to unique biophysical and biochemical properties and cellular functions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

    Kandice R. Levental

  2. Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Whitney S. Henry

  3. Department of Biology, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Whitney S. Henry

Authors
  1. Kandice R. Levental
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  2. Whitney S. Henry
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Correspondence to Kandice R. Levental or Whitney S. Henry.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Levental, K.R., Henry, W.S. Lipidomes define immune cell identity. Nat Cell Biol 26, 516–518 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-024-01398-8

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