title: Activated lymphocytes as a metabolic model for carcinogenesis.
abstract: Metabolic reprogramming is a key event in tumorigenesis to support cell growth, and cancer cells frequently become both highly glycolytic and glutamine dependent. Similarly, T lymphocytes (T cells) modify their metabolism after activation by foreign antigens to shift from an energetically efficient oxidative metabolism to a highly glycolytic and glutamine-dependent metabolic program. This metabolic transition enables T cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. In both activated T cells and cancer cells metabolic reprogramming is achieved by similar mechanisms and offers similar survival and cell growth advantages. Activated T cells thus present a useful model with which to study the development of tumor metabolism. Here, we review the metabolic similarities and distinctions between activated T cells and cancer cells, and discuss both the common signaling pathways and master metabolic regulators that lead to metabolic rewiring. Ultimately, understanding how and why T cells adopt a cancer cell-like metabolic profile may identify new therapeutic strategies to selectively target tumor metabolism or inflammatory immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Department of Immunology, Sarah W, Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, USA. jeff.rathmell@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Macintyre
authors.forename: Jeffrey C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rathmell