Peng-Winkler Y, Wessels I, Rink L, Fischer HJ. Zinc Levels Affect the Metabolic Switch of T Cells by Modulating Glucose Uptake and Insulin Receptor Signaling.
Mol Nutr Food Res 2022;
66:e2100944. [PMID:
35182109 DOI:
10.1002/mnfr.202100944]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
SCOPE
T cell activation requires a metabolic reprogramming from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis to rapidly provide substrates for biosynthesis. An individual's zinc status plays an important role in balancing the activation of T cells and is required for a proper function of immune cells. Furthermore, zinc plays an important role during effector T cell polarization to T helper cell subsets or regulatory T cells, with effector T cells relying on glycolysis and regulatory T cells on oxidative phosphorylation. Therefore, we aimed to analyze if zinc also impacts on T cell activation on the level of intracellular metabolism.
METHODS AND RESULTS
We used mixed lymphocyte culture and anti-CD3/CD28 stimulation as in vitro models for T cell activation to investigate the effect of zinc supplementation and deprivation on metabolic switching. We observed promoted glucose uptake, insulin receptor expression and signaling in both zinc conditions, whereas key metabolic enzymes were stimulated mainly by zinc deprivation. Alterations in cytokine production suggest an immune-activating effect of zinc deprivation and a balancing effect of zinc supplementation.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest a supportive effect of both zinc supplementation and deprivation on the metabolic switch during T cell activation, adding another level of immune regulation by zinc. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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