Glycobiology in Immunometabolism: Emerging Roles in Health and Disease

The integration of metabolic and immune signalling pathways has emerged as a central paradigm in understanding both physiological homeostasis and disease pathogenesis. Within this framework, glycobiology –particularly protein glycosylation and nutrient-sensitive modifications such as O-GlcNAcylation– has gained increasing attention as a critical regulatory layer linking cellular metabolism to immune function.The hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) acts as a metabolic sensor that integrates glucose, amino acid, lipid, and nucleotide metabolism, ultimately modulating protein function through dynamic glycosylation. These processes influence key cellular mechanisms, including signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, epigenetic remodelling, and vesicular trafficking. In immune cells, such as macrophages, glycosylation-dependent pathways regulate inflammatory responses, pathogen recognition, and intracellular trafficking, thereby shaping host–pathogen interactions and immune outcomes.Recent evidence highlights the role of glycobiology in the pathogenesis of a wide range of conditions, including metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes and obesity), infectious diseases, cancer, and chronic inflammatory states. Dysregulation of glycosylation pathways has been associated with altered immune cell activation, impaired inflammation resolution, and changes in cellular metabolism that contribute to disease progression.This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive platform for exploring the emerging roles of glycobiology in immunometabolism across health and disease contexts. By integrating molecular, cellular, and translational perspectives, this Research Topic seeks to advance our understanding of glycobiology as a key modulator of immunometabolism and to identify novel therapeutic opportunities for complex diseases. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives addressing, but not limited to:• Molecular mechanisms linking glycosylation and immunometabolic pathways • O-GlcNAcylation and its role in immune regulation and metabolic adaptation • Glycosylation in host–pathogen interactions and infectious diseases • Impact of metabolic states (e.g., hyperglycemia, nutrient stress) on immune function through glycan-mediated regulation • Glycobiology in chronic inflammation, cancer, and metabolic disorders • Crosstalk between glycosylation and intracellular trafficking pathways • Translational and clinical implications of targeting glycosylation pathways Topic editors: Yobana Perez-Cervera, ROBERTA SALINAS, Jose Luis Sánchez Salgado Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81410/glycobiology-in-immunometabolism-emerging-roles-in-health-and-disease