Fig. 2

Dynamics of microglial metabolism. Microglia have the ability to utilize several nutrients for energy production. Uptake of glucose in micorglia is facilitated via glucose transporters (GLUTs), which then undergoes glycolysis to produce pyruvate. Pyruvate is converted into acetyl co-enzyme A (acetyl-CoA) that is shunted into the tricarboxlic acid cycle (TCA). TCA cycle produces nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) for oxidate phosphorylation (OXPHOS) generating ATP. Parallel to glycolysis and OXPHOS, glucose taken up by the microglia can also produce NADPH and ribose 5-phosphate through the pentose phosphate pathway. Several other nutrients, such as fatty acids, lactate, pyruvate, and glutamine supplement ATP production in microglia through direct entry into the TCA cycle and thus can enhance OXPHOS even in the absence of a constant supply of glucose