Naive T cells respond to T cell receptor (TCR) activation by leaving quiescence, remodeling metabolism, initiating expansion, and differentiating toward effector T cells. The molecular mechanisms coordinating the naive to effector transition are central to the functioning of the immune system, but remain elusive. Here, we discover that T cells fulfill this transitional process through translational control. Naive cells accumulate untranslated mRNAs encoding for glycolysis and fatty acid synthesis factors and possess translational machinery poised for immediate protein synthesis. Upon TCR engagement, activation of the translational machinery leads to synthesis of GLUT1 protein to drive glucose entry. Subsequently, translation of ACC1 mRNA completes metabolic reprogramming toward an effector phenotype. Notably, inhibition of the eIF4F complex abrogates lymphocyte metabolic activation and differentiation, suggesting ACC1 to be a key regulatory node. Thus, our results demonstrate that translation is a direct mediator of T cell metabolism and indicate translation factors as targets for novel immunotherapeutic approaches.

The Translational Machinery of Human CD4+ T Cells Is Poised for Activation and Controls the Switch from Quiescence to Metabolic Remodeling / S. Ricciardi, N. Manfrini, R. Alfieri, P. Calamita, M.C. Crosti, G. Simone, R. Müller, M. Pagani, S. Abrignani, S. Biffo. - In: CELL METABOLISM. - ISSN 1550-4131. - 28:6(2018 Dec 04), pp. 895-906.e5.

The Translational Machinery of Human CD4+ T Cells Is Poised for Activation and Controls the Switch from Quiescence to Metabolic Remodeling

S. Ricciardi;N. Manfrini;M. Pagani;S. Abrignani;S. Biffo
2018

Abstract

Naive T cells respond to T cell receptor (TCR) activation by leaving quiescence, remodeling metabolism, initiating expansion, and differentiating toward effector T cells. The molecular mechanisms coordinating the naive to effector transition are central to the functioning of the immune system, but remain elusive. Here, we discover that T cells fulfill this transitional process through translational control. Naive cells accumulate untranslated mRNAs encoding for glycolysis and fatty acid synthesis factors and possess translational machinery poised for immediate protein synthesis. Upon TCR engagement, activation of the translational machinery leads to synthesis of GLUT1 protein to drive glucose entry. Subsequently, translation of ACC1 mRNA completes metabolic reprogramming toward an effector phenotype. Notably, inhibition of the eIF4F complex abrogates lymphocyte metabolic activation and differentiation, suggesting ACC1 to be a key regulatory node. Thus, our results demonstrate that translation is a direct mediator of T cell metabolism and indicate translation factors as targets for novel immunotherapeutic approaches.
ACC1; CD4(+) T cell; GLUT1; eIF4E; eIF6; metabolism; metabolome; proteome; transcriptome; translational control
Settore MED/03 - Genetica Medica
Settore BIO/06 - Anatomia Comparata e Citologia
Settore BIO/11 - Biologia Molecolare
Settore MED/04 - Patologia Generale
   Noncoding and Translational Modulation of Gene Expression and Epigenetic Changes
   TRANSLATE
   EUROPEAN COMMISSION
   FP7
   338999
4-dic-2018
29-ago-2018
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/588873
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