Pharmacological Activation of Pyruvate Kinase M2 Inhibits CD4+ T Cell Pathogenicity and Suppresses Autoimmunity

Stefano Angiari, Marah C. Runtsch, Caroline E. Sutton, Eva M. Palsson-McDermott, Beth Kelly, Nisha Rana, Harry Kane, Gina Papadopoulou, Erika L. Pearce, Kingston H.G. Mills, Luke A.J. O'Neill

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Pyruvate kinase (PK) catalyzes the conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate during glycolysis. The PK isoform PKM2 has additional roles in regulation of gene transcription and protein phosphorylation. PKM2 has been shown to control macrophage metabolic remodeling in inflammation, but its role in T cell biology is poorly understood. Here, we report PKM2 upregulation, phosphorylation, and nuclear accumulation in murine and human CD4+ T cells following activation in vitro. Treatment of T cells with TEPP-46, an allosteric activator that induces PKM2 tetramerization and blocks its nuclear translocation, strongly reduces their activation, proliferation, and cytokine production by inhibiting essential signaling pathways and thus preventing the engagement of glycolysis. TEPP-46 limits the development of both T helper 17 (Th17) and Th1 cells in vitro and ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in vivo. Overall, our results suggest that pharmacological targeting of PKM2 may represent a valuable therapeutic approach in T cell-mediated inflammation and autoimmunity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)391-405.e8
JournalCell Metabolism
Volume31
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 4 2020
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • PKM2
  • Th1
  • Th17
  • autoimmunity
  • immunometabolism
  • inflammation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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