Transcriptional regulation of T cell metabolism and metabolic control of T cell gene expression

Abstract

T cells undergo activation, maturation, and differentiation in which they can substantially transform and restructure. This includes metabolic adaptations which have been well recognized to be specific for T cell subsets. T cell subset-specific metabolism is thought to reflect different bioenergetic requirements as well as adaptations to environmental conditions in which the T cells operate. The metabolic changes that occur in T cells are orchestrated by signaling cascades that lead to rapid post-translational changes and through transcription factors which facilitate more long-term adaptations. In addition, metabolites produced within T cells or taken up from the environment can influence gene expression by altering chromatin accessibility or the effectiveness of transcription factors through post-translational modifications, and thus act as transcription regulators in their own right.