Figure 4.

Pathogenic Lipogenesis in RA T cells. Metabolic rewiring in RA T cells, including the shunting of glucose to the pentose phosphate pathway, the export of mitochondrial citrate and the suppression of mitochondrial lipid oxidation, all favor lipogenesis over lipolysis. As a result, RA T cells deposit lipid droplets in the cytoplasm and are rich in biosynthetic precursors for membrane lipids. Lowered glycolytic activity upregulates a module of motility genes, including the scaffolding protein TKS5. As part of their pro-inflammatory phenotype, lipogenesis-biased TKS5^hi RA T cells spontaneously form actin- and cortactin-rich membrane ruffles, equipping them tissue invasion and mobility in extracellular matrix. AcCoA, acetyl-CoA.