T cell metabolism in homeostasis and cancer immunity

Abstract

T cells shape immune responses in cancer, autoimmunity and infection, in which CD4⁺ T helper (Th) and CD8⁺ T cells mediate effector responses that are suppressed by regulatory T (T_reg) cells. The balance between effector T cell and T_reg cell function orchestrates immune homeostasis and functional programming, with important contributions to the onset and progression of cancer. Cellular metabolism is dynamically rewired in T cells in response to environmental cues and dictates various aspects of T cell function. In this review, we summarize recent findings on how cellular metabolism modulates effector T cell and T_reg cell functional fitness in homeostasis and cancer immunity, and highlight the therapeutic implications of targeting immunometabolic pathways for cancer and other diseases.