T-cell metabolism and its dysfunction induced by cancer

Abstract

This chapter is focused on the changes in the metabolic pathways of immune cells to fulfill the demands of development, proliferation, and effector function of T-cells. We review how T-cells change their metabolism to (a) obtain energy throughout the different states of maturation (naive, memory, and effector cell), (b) form construction blocks to proliferate (carbon skeleton and nitrogen for nitrogen bases), and (c) live during a long-term period. Finally, we also review how the metabolism of T-cell is affected by the tumor microenvironment.