mTOR Is Key to T Cell Transdifferentiation

T cell transdifferentiation to functionally distinct subsets can play a key role in balancing the protective and pathogenic features of the T cell response. In a new study, Karmaus et al. (2019) Karmaus P.W.F. Chen X. Lim S.A. Herrada A.A. Nguyen T.M. Xu B. Dhungana Y. Rankin S. Chen W. Rosencrance C. et al. Metabolic heterogeneity underlies reciprocal fates of T H17 cell stemness and plasticity. Nature. 2019; 565 : 101-105 Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar showed that mTORC1 activity influences metabolic heterogeneity within a T cell population to modulate transdifferentiation and disease pathogenesis in a setting of chronic inflammation-driven autoimmunity