# One-carbon metabolism and immune cell function in tuberculosis

> **NIH NIH R01** · RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES · 2024 · $769,821

## Abstract

Abstract The immunometabolism of tuberculosis (TB) offers new opportunities for controlling this deadly
infectious disease. We and others have characterized the immunometabolic changes in multiple animal models
of TB and found that metabolic remodeling to the HIF-1-mediated Warburg effect is a general response to
infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB. Recently, using multiple approaches that
include metabolomics and transcriptomic profiling, we identified novel core metabolic pathways that are found in
both Mtb-infected M1-like macrophages and in mouse lungs. These include glutaminolysis and one-carbon
metabolism. One-carbon metabolism catabolizes the transfer of serine-derived one-carbon (1C) units to
generate methyl-tetrahydrofolate (THF) intermediates that are then utilized for nucleotide synthesis and for
methylation reactions through the methionine cycle. One-carbon metabolism is also involved in redox balancing
through the generation of NADH/NADPH and of glycine and cysteine for glutathione (GSH) synthesis. We also
found that inhibition of methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2 (MTHFD2) leads to diminished M1-like
polarization that includes dysregulated mitochondrial function and dampened mTORC1/ATF4 signaling in M1-
like macrophages. MTHFD2 is a key mitochondrial enzyme of one-carbon metabolism that is encoded by Mthfd2,
which is highly induced in Mtb infected M-like macrophages and mouse lungs. Based on these observations, we
hypothesize that mitochondrial MTHFD2-mediated, one-carbon metabolism contributes to metabolic remodeling
programs of activating immune cells by generating 1C units for nucleotide synthesis and methylation reactions,
as well as reducing equivalents and GSH for redox homeostasis. Since TB is often associated with a deficiency
of folic acid, the precursor of the 1C carrier THF, we also hypothesize that folic acid deficiency during Mtb
infection dampens one-carbon metabolism, leading to diminished activation, differentiation, and effector function
of host immune cells. Moreover, since elevated MTHFD2 in vivo is associated with inflammatory disease severity,
we further hypothesize that prolonged and elevated expression of one-carbon metabolism contributes to lung
pathology at the chronic stage of Mtb infection. To test our hypothesis, in Aim 1, we will delineate how MTHFD2-
mediated, one-carbon metabolism regulates immunometabolic properties of M1-like macrophages,
mitochondrial biology, serine metabolic pathways, and the mechanism of Mthfd2 upregulation. In Aim 2, we will
generate conditional KO mouse strains lacking Mthfd2 in myeloid cells and T cell lineage to delineate the impact
of Mthfd2 deficiency on disease progression and immunometabolic properties of immune cells and/or subsets.
With Aim 3, we will use a susceptible mouse model of TB to evaluate the effects of folic acid dietary intake on
the expression of host immunity to control Mtb infection. We will also define the therapeuti...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10897888
- **Project number:** 5R01AI177788-02
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Padmini Salgame
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $769,821
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-02 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10897888

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10897888, One-carbon metabolism and immune cell function in tuberculosis (5R01AI177788-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10897888. Licensed CC0.

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