Cutting Edge: Elevated Glycolytic Metabolism Limits the Formation of Memory CD8⁺ T Cells in Early Life.

ABSTRACT: Neonates often develop poor immunity against intracellular pathogens. Because CD8⁺ T cells are essential for eliminating infectious agents, it is crucial to understand why they behave differently in early life. Previous studies in mice have demonstrated that neonatal CD8⁺ T cells fail to form memory because of an intrinsic propensity to differentiate into short-lived effectors. However, the underlying mechanisms remain undefined. We now show that neonatal CD8⁺ T cells exhibit higher glycolytic activity than adult CD8⁺ T cells postinfection, which may be due to age-related differences in Lin28b expression. Importantly, when glycolysis is pharmacologically inhibited, the impaired formation of neonatal memory CD8⁺ T cells can be restored.

SUBMITTER: Tabilas C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6832862 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature