The tumor suppressor menin prevents effector CD8 T-cell dysfunction by targeting mTORC1-dependent metabolic activation

Nat Commun. 2018 Aug 17;9(1):3296. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-05854-6.

Abstract

While menin plays an important role in preventing T-cell dysfunction, such as senescence and exhaustion, the regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. We found that menin prevents the induction of dysfunction in activated CD8 T cells by restricting the cellular metabolism. mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling, glycolysis, and glutaminolysis are augmented by menin deficiency. Rapamycin treatment prevents CD8 T-cell dysfunction in menin-deficient CD8 T cells. Limited glutamine availability also prevents CD8 T-cell dysfunction induced by menin deficiency, and its inhibitory effect is antagonized by α-ketoglutarate (α-KG), an intermediate metabolite of glutaminolysis. α-KG-dependent histone H3K27 demethylation seems to be involved in the dysfunction in menin-deficient CD8 T cells. We also found that α-KG activates mTORC1-dependent central carbon metabolism. These findings suggest that menin maintains the T-cell functions by limiting mTORC 1 activity and subsequent cellular metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activation, Metabolic / drug effects
  • Animals
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Carbon / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Female
  • Glutamine / metabolism
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Ketoglutaric Acids / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Lysine / metabolism
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 / metabolism*
  • Metabolomics
  • Methylation / drug effects
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / deficiency
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology

Substances

  • Histones
  • Ketoglutaric Acids
  • Men1 protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Glutamine
  • Carbon
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1
  • Lysine
  • Sirolimus