Arginase activity and arginine metabolism in immune cells have important consequences for health and disease. Their dysregulation is commonly observed in cancer, autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases. Following the initial description of a role for arginase in the dysfunction of T cells mounting an antitumour response, numerous studies have broadened our understanding of the regulation and expression of arginases and their integration with other metabolic pathways. Here, we highlight the differences in arginase compartmentalization and storage between humans and rodents that should be taken into consideration when assessing the effects of arginase activity. We detail the roles of arginases, arginine and its metabolites in immune cells and their effects in the context of cancer, autoimmunity and infectious disease. Finally, we explore potential therapeutic strategies targeting arginases and arginine.

免疫细胞中的精氨酸酶活性和精氨酸代谢对健康和疾病有重要影响。它们的失调常见于癌症、自身免疫性疾病和传染病。在初步描述精氨酸酶在产生抗肿瘤反应的 T 细胞功能障碍中的作用之后，许多研究拓宽了我们对精氨酸酶的调节和表达及其与其他代谢途径整合的理解。在这里，我们强调了人类和啮齿动物之间精氨酸酶区室化和储存的差异，在评估精氨酸酶活性的影响时应考虑这些差异。我们详细介绍了精氨酸酶、精氨酸及其代谢物在免疫细胞中的作用，以及它们在癌症、自身免疫和传染病背景下的影响。最后，我们探索了针对精氨酸酶和精氨酸的潜在治疗策略。