The glucose transporter 2 regulates CD8+ T cell function via environment sensing
Hongmei Fu # 1, Juho Vuononvirta # 1, Silvia Fanti 1, Fabrizia Bonacina 2, Antonio D’Amati 3, Guosu Wang 1, Thanushiyan Poobalasingam 1, Maria Fankhaenel 4, Davide Lucchesi 1, Rachel Coleby 1, David Tarussio 5, Bernard Thorens 5, Robert J Hearnden 4, M Paula Longhi 1, Paul Grevitt 4, Madeeha H Sheikh 1, Egle Solito 1, Susana A Godinho 4, Michele Bombardieri 1, David M Smith 6, Dianne Cooper 1, Asif J Iqbal 7, Jeffrey C Rathmell 8, Samuel Schaefer 8, Valle Morales 4, Katiuscia Bianchi 4, Giuseppe Danilo Norata 2, Federica M Marelli-Berg 9
Affiliations expand
- PMID: 37884694
- PMCID: PMC10663157
- DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00913-9
Free PMC article
Abstract
T cell activation is associated with a profound and rapid metabolic response to meet increased energy demands for cell division, differentiation and development of effector function. Glucose uptake and engagement of the glycolytic pathway are major checkpoints for this event. Here we show that the low-affinity, concentration-dependent glucose transporter 2 (Glut2) regulates the development of CD8+ T cell effector responses in mice by promoting glucose uptake, glycolysis and glucose storage. Expression of Glut2 is modulated by environmental factors including glucose and oxygen availability and extracellular acidification. Glut2 is highly expressed by circulating, recently primed T cells, allowing efficient glucose uptake and storage. In glucose-deprived inflammatory environments, Glut2 becomes downregulated, thus preventing passive loss of intracellular glucose. Mechanistically, Glut2 expression is regulated by a combination of molecular interactions involving hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha, galectin-9 and stomatin. Finally, we show that human T cells also rely on this glucose transporter, thus providing a potential target for therapeutic immunomodulation.