Activated lymphocytes as a metabolic model for carcinogenesis.
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.
Duke Scholars
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- 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
- 3205 Medical biochemistry and metabolomics
Citation
Published In
DOI
ISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
- 3205 Medical biochemistry and metabolomics