Metabolic regulation of T cell differentiation and function.
Upon encountering pathogens, T cells mount immune responses by proliferating, increasing cellular mass and differentiating. These cellular changes impose significant energetic challenges on T cells. It was believed that TCR and cytokine-mediated signaling are dominant dictators of T cell-mediated immune responses. Recently, it was recognized that T cells utilize metabolic transporters and metabolic sensors that allow them to rapidly respond to nutrient-limiting inflammatory environments. Metabolic sensors allow T cells to find a balance between energy consumption (anabolic metabolism) and production (catabolic metabolism) in order to mount effective immune responses. Also, metabolic regulators interact with cytokine-dependent transcriptional regulators, suggesting a more integrative and advanced model of T cell activation and differentiation. In this review, we will discuss recent discoveries regarding the roles of metabolic regulators in effector and memory T cell development and their interaction with canonical transcription factors.
Immunology and Hematopoiesis Division, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
Benjamin V
BV
Park
Immunology and Hematopoiesis Division, Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. Electronic address: fpan1@jhmi.edu.
Fan
F
Pan
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
Aerobic glycolysis; Anabolic metabolism; Catabolic metabolism; Differentiation; Effector and memory T cells; Fatty acid oxidation; Proliferation; TCA cycle; Treg