Fig. 1: The unique metabolic features of T cell subsets.
From: The therapeutic implications of immunosuppressive tumor aerobic glycolysis
A T cell activation via the TCR results in massive glycolytic reprogramming and a significant increase in mitochondrial metabolism. Recent tracing experiments have demonstrated that glucose is metabolized into both lactate and Krebs cycle intermediates in vivo. These metabolic changes are dictated by the oncogenic transcription factors HIF and myc. B Protumor Tregs are more oxidative than their antitumor counterparts. These tumor-promoting cells are able to metabolize lactate, convert it into pyruvate via LDH and use this substrate as mitochondrial fuel. The Treg-identifying marker FOXP3 drives these substantial increases in mitochondrial biogenesis and function, while mitochondrial complex 3 has recently been shown to be crucial for maximal Treg suppressive function.
