Figure 5. T cell metabolism.

Naïve T cells have relatively low metabolic demands and primarily rely on oxidative phosphorylation, whereas activated and proliferating T cells depend upon glycolysis and glutaminolysis. These metabolic shifts are accompanied by mitochondrial remodeling, which also plays a role in T cell exhaustion and antitumor immunity. Metabolic pathways are extensively targeted by disease-modifying drugs to treat immune-dysregulatory disease. Rapamycin (sirolimus) targets mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), which is activated ty T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation and proliferation-inducing cytokines like IL (interleukin) −2 and IL-7. In environments with limited glucose availability, AMP protein kinase (AMPK) inhibits mTOR, pushing T cells towards quiescence and a memory phenotype