Metabolic programming in chronically stimulated T cells: Lessons from cancer and viral infections

Abstract

T-cell metabolism is central to the shaping of a successful immune response. However, there are pathological situations where T cells are rendered dysfunctional and incapable of eliminating infected or transformed cells. Here, we review the current knowledge on T-cell metabolism and how persistent antigenic stimulation, in the form of cancer and chronic viral infection, modifies both metabolic and functional pathways in T cells.

Keywords: Cancer; Chronic infection; Metabolism; Negative regulatory receptors; T cells.