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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Mar 1.
Published in final edited form as: Immunol Rev. 2020 Jan 27;294(1):177–187. doi: 10.1111/imr.12838

Figure 1. Metabolic checkpoints in pro-inflammatory and auto-aggressive T cells.

Figure 1.

Studies in CD4 T cells from patients with RA have identified a series of molecules that deviate T cell function towards pro-inflammatory capabilities. All molecules identified have in common that they regulate or are regulated by the cell’s metabolic machinery. PFKFB3, G6PD and FASN directly regulate cytosolic glycolysis and lipogenesis. The cell cycle kinase ATM senses metabolic activity through reactive oxygen species to coordinate cell cycle passage to nutrient supply. The DNA repair nuclease MRE11A maintains metabolic competence by protecting mitochondrial DNA. The transferase NMT1 enables trafficking of the energy sensor AMPK to the lysosomal surface. Metabolic intermediates regulate expression of the membrane adaptor molecule Tks5, thereby rendering T cells tissue-invasive.