Glucose is more than just a simple sugar rush for cancer- and infection-fighting T cells. A groundbreaking discovery by Van Andel Institute scientists has shed light on the crucial role that glucose plays in powering immune cells, enhancing T cells’ ability to communicate internally, and boosting their cancer-fighting properties. This newfound understanding could pave the way for optimizing T cells’ effectiveness in combating cancer and other diseases.
The study, recently published in Cell Metabolism, unravels the mystery behind T cells’ reliance on glucose. Joseph Longo, Ph.D., the study’s lead author and a postdoctoral fellow in Russell Jones, Ph.D.’s lab, explains, “Immune cells are highly influenced by their environment. We knew that T cells need access to glucose to function, but we didn’t know exactly why. It was previously thought that T cells primarily use glucose for energy, but our new research reveals that T cells utilize glucose as a building block for essential molecules that support their anti-cancer properties.”
The research highlights that T cells allocate a significant portion of glucose to construct glycosphingolipids (GSLs), which are vital sugar-fat compounds crucial for T cell growth and the production of proteins that enable T cells to combat cancer. These GSLs play a pivotal role in forming lipid rafts, fat-rich structures on T cell surfaces that bring together cell signaling proteins responsible for instructing T cells to eliminate cancer cells. Without GSLs, these signaling mechanisms are weakened, compromising T cells’ ability to destroy tumors effectively.
Jones further elaborates on the significance of understanding the diverse nutrient sources leveraged by both T cells and cancer cells, stating, “Both T cells and cancer cells utilize different nutrients to support various aspects of their function. By delving deeper into these distinct fuel sources, we can enhance T cells’ inherent cancer-fighting capabilities while also exploring ways to potentially render cancer cells more susceptible to immune attack.”
The study, titled “Glucose-dependent glycosphingolipid biosynthesis fuels CD8+ T cell function and tumor control,” published in Cell Metabolism, provides valuable insights into the intricate relationship between glucose metabolism and T cell function in combating cancer. This groundbreaking research opens up new avenues for enhancing the therapeutic potential of T cells in cancer immunotherapy and other disease treatments.
For more information on this groundbreaking discovery, refer to the study published in Cell Metabolism by Joseph Longo et al. (DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2025.07.006) and visit the Van Andel Research Institute’s website for further updates and insights into cutting-edge biomedical research.
