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Mitochondria of young adipocytes release RNA molecules that serve as signals to stimulate the transcription of nuclear-encoded genes for mitobiogenesis and thermogenesis. Mitochondrial RNA (mtRNA) efflux thus establishes retrograde mitochondria–nucleus signalling and triggers heat production from fat. Stimulating this signalling protects against obesity in mice.
A maternal high-fat diet (mHFD) alters behavior in offspring in a sex-specific manner. We demonstrate that mHFD increases endotoxin levels in fetal tissues and decreases long-term serotonin bioavailability in male offspring owing to removal of serotonin neurons by microglia in the embryonic brain.
The immune-modulatory metabolite itaconate is secreted by myeloid-derived suppressor cells and taken up by CD8+ T cells to suppress their proliferation and function. In mice, blocking itaconate production enhances the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade.
