Cell Metabolism
Volume 31, Issue 5, 5 May 2020, Pages 920-936.e7
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Article
Glutathione Restricts Serine Metabolism to Preserve Regulatory T Cell Function

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2020.03.004Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Ablation of Gclc in Tregs causes autoimmunity and increases anti-tumor responses

  • Gclc-derived GSH is needed for the suppressive function of Tregs in vitro and in vivo

  • GSH in Tregs regulates serine concentrations and metabolism. which impact mTOR and FoxP3

  • Serine- and glycine-deficient diet rescues mutant mice from lethal inflammation

Summary

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) maintain immune homeostasis and prevent autoimmunity. Serine stimulates glutathione (GSH) synthesis and feeds into the one-carbon metabolic network (1CMet) essential for effector T cell (Teff) responses. However, serine’s functions, linkage to GSH, and role in stress responses in Tregs are unknown. Here, we show, using mice with Treg-specific ablation of the catalytic subunit of glutamate cysteine ligase (Gclc), that GSH loss in Tregs alters serine import and synthesis and that the integrity of this feedback loop is critical for Treg suppressive capacity. Although Gclc ablation does not impair Treg differentiation, mutant mice exhibit severe autoimmunity and enhanced anti-tumor responses. Gclc-deficient Tregs show increased serine metabolism, mTOR activation, and proliferation but downregulated FoxP3. Limitation of cellular serine in vitro and in vivo restores FoxP3 expression and suppressive capacity of Gclc-deficient Tregs. Our work reveals an unexpected role for GSH in restricting serine availability to preserve Treg functionality.

Keywords

Treg
ROS
serine metabolism
glutathione
glutamate cysteine ligase
one carbon metabolism
FoxP3
autoimmunity
cancer
diet

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