title: Induction of HIF-1alpha and the glycolytic pathway alters apoptotic and differentiation profiles of activated human T cells.
abstract: The majority of in vitro studies involving lymphocytes is performed in AtmO(2), and the PhysO(2) that T cells encounter are variable but commonly much lower. Previous studies showed changed kinetics and delayed proliferation of human T cells at PhysO(2). Here, we show that CD3/CD28-dependent T cell activation induces faster cell cycling at AtmO(2) than at PhysO(2) (here taken to be 2%). Concomitantly with HIF-1alpha expression, we observed a switch in the T cell respiratory pathway toward glycolysis at PhysO(2). Thus, modulating available glucose levels showed that at PhysO(2), T cells rely more on glycolysis, associated with a higher phosphorylation of Akt(ser473). Although no difference in spontaneous apoptosis of resting cells was detected, it was increased significantly at PhysO(2) after T cell activation and was different within the different T cell subsets. This may explain at least partly the differently altered proliferation and subset distribution observed in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells as a result of differences in naïve and memory subset distribution. Together, these findings suggest that T cell activation thresholds, subsequent proliferative capacity, and susceptibility to apoptosis, hitherto studied in air and thought to be crucial for monitoring immune responsiveness, may require re-assessment.
authors.affiliation: Center for Medical Research (ZMF), Tübingen Aging and Tumor Immunology Group (Sektion für Transplantationsimmunologie und Immunhämatologie), Waldhörnlestrasse 22, 72072 Tübingen, Germany. anis.larbi@medizin.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Anis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larbi
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zelba
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldeck
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pawelec
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006019:Glycolysis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000276:immunology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000276:immunology; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D010100:Oxygen