Macrophages are the core effector cells of the innate immune system. The dysregulation of amino acid, glucose, lipid, and energy metabolism in macrophages has a profound impact on inflammatory pathways. A comprehensive analysis of metabolites in macrophages can identify inflammatory metabolic biomarkers, elucidate inflammatory metabolic pathways, and provide a deep understanding of inflammation. Metabolomics technology, as a high-throughput detection method for analyzing small molecule metabolites in the body, can reveal the relationship of metabolic networks by detecting changes in the metabolites of macrophages. Therefore, this review summarizes the application of metabolomics in macrophages, comprehensively elaborates the metabolic network within macrophages, and aims to provide a new perspective for the discovery of potential inflammatory biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Wang et al. (2026) studied this question.