IL-7 promotes Glut1 trafficking and glucose uptake via STAT5-mediated activation of Akt to support T-cell survival.
Lymphocyte homeostasis requires coordination of metabolic processes with cellular energetic and biosynthetic demands but mechanisms that regulate T-cell metabolism are uncertain. We show that interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a key regulator of glucose uptake in T lymphocytes. To determine how IL-7 affects glucose uptake, we analyzed IL-7 signaling mechanisms and regulation of the glucose transporter, Glut1. The IL-7 receptor (IL-7R) stimulated glucose uptake and cell-surface localization of Glut1 in a manner that required IL-7R Y449, which promoted rapid signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) activation and a delayed yet sustained activation of Akt. Each pathway was necessary for IL-7 to promote glucose uptake, as Akt1(-/-) T cells or PI3-kinase inhibition and RNAi of STAT5 led to defective glucose uptake in response to IL-7. STAT5 and Akt acted in a linear pathway, with STAT5-mediated transcription leading to Akt activation, which was necessary for STAT5 and IL-7 to promote glucose uptake and prevent cell death. Importantly, IL-7 required glucose uptake to promote cell survival. These data demonstrate that IL-7 promotes glucose uptake via a novel signaling mechanism in which STAT5 transcriptional activity promotes Akt activation to regulate Glut1 trafficking and glucose uptake that is critical for IL-7 to prevent T-cell death and maintain homeostasis.
Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Jessica A
JA
Wofford
Heather L
HL
Wieman
Sarah R
SR
Jacobs
Yuxing
Y
Zhao
Jeffrey C
JC
Rathmell
D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015851:Interleukin-7 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051272:Glucose Transporter Type 1; D015851:Interleukin-7; C499308:Rag2 protein, mouse; D050799:STAT5 Transcription Factor; C495678:Slc2a1 protein, mouse; D005947:Glucose