Activation of CD4+ T cells results in rapid proliferation and differentiation into effector and regulatory subsets. CD4+ effector T cell (Teff) (Th1 and Th17) and Treg subsets are metabolically distinct, yet the specific metabolic differences that modify T cell populations are uncertain. Here, we evaluated CD4+ T cell populations in murine models and determined that inflammatory Teffs maintain high expression of glycolytic genes and rely on high glycolytic rates, while Tregs are oxidative and require mitochondrial electron transport to proliferate, differentiate, and survive. Metabolic profiling revealed that pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) is a key bifurcation point between T cell glycolytic and oxidative metabolism. PDH function is inhibited by PDH kinases (PDHKs). PDHK1 was expressed in Th17 cells, but not Th1 cells, and at low levels in Tregs, and inhibition or knockdown of PDHK1 selectively suppressed Th17 cells and increased Tregs. This alteration in the CD4+ T cell populations was mediated in part through ROS, as
Valerie A. Gerriets, Rigel J. Kishton, Amanda G. Nichols, Andrew N. Macintyre, Makoto Inoue, Olga Ilkayeva, Peter S. Winter, Xiaojing Liu, Bhavana Priyadharshini, Marta E. Slawinska, Lea Haeberli, Catherine Huck, Laurence A. Turka, Kris C. Wood, Laura P. Hale, Paul A. Smith, Martin A. Schneider, Nancie J. MacIver, Jason W. Locasale, Christopher B. Newgard, Mari L. Shinohara, Jeffrey C. Rathmell
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