Glucose controls CD8+ T cell function

Glucose is required for T cell proliferation and function, but its key metabolic fates in vivo are not well defined. 

The researchers demonstrate that in CD8+ effector T cells, glucose metabolism extends beyond energy production by fueling glycosphingolipid (GSL) biosynthesis, a pathway critical for T cell expansion and cytotoxic function.

The authors show that CD8⁺ effector T cells use glucose to synthesize uridine diphosphate-glucose (UDP-Glc), a precursor for glycogen, glycan, and GSL biosynthesis. Inhibiting GSL production impairs CD8⁺ T cell expansion upon pathogen challenge.

Mechanistically, we show that glucose-dependent GSL biosynthesis is required for plasma membrane lipid raft integrity and optimal T cell receptor (TCR) signaling.

https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(25)00333-X

https://sciencemission.com/Glucose-dependent-glycosphingolipid-biosynthesis