Metabolic-Immune Crosstalk in Pediatric Rheumatology: From Pathogenesis to Precision Therapy
Iranian Journal of Child Neurology,
Vol. 20 No. 1 (2026),
1 January 2026
,
Page 1-7
https://doi.org/10.22037/ijcn.v20i1.50763
Abstract
The immune system and metabolic pathways are strongly interconnected, influencing each other in both physiological and pathological contexts. Nutrient signaling and cellular energy levels have a significant impact on the functioning of the immune system, in processes ranging from activation to differentiation and survival. In children, where both the immune and metabolic systems are still developing, disturbances in this balance can markedly influence disease manifestation and treatment response. Recent advances in immunometabolism have revealed that metabolic dysfunction is not merely a consequence of inflammation but can also serve as a primary driver of immune dysregulation. This review explores how metabolic problems may mimic or modify rheumatic diseases, and conversely, how immune-mediated disorders can disturb metabolic homeostasis. Understanding this bidirectional relationship provides novel insights into pathogenesis and opens avenues for metabolism-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in pediatric rheumatology.
- : immunometabolism, pediatric rheumatology, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, pediatrics
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