Sirtuin 1 in Host Defense during Infection

Sirtuins (SIRTs) are members of the class III histone deacetylase family and epigenetically control multiple target genes to modulate diverse biological responses in cells. Among the SIRTs, SIRT1 is the most well-studied, with a role in the modulation of immune and inflammatory responses following infection. The functions of SIRT1 include orchestrating immune, inflammatory, metabolic, and autophagic responses, all of which are required in establishing and controlling host defenses during infection. In this review, we summarize recent information on the roles of SIRT1 and its regulatory mechanisms during bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. We also discuss several SIRT1 modulators, as potential antimicrobial treatments. Understanding the function of SIRT1 in balancing immune homeostasis will contribute to the development of new therapeutics for the treatment of infection and inflammatory disease.