L-phenylalanine is a metabolic checkpoint of human Th2 cells

  • After the primary response, circulating memory CD4+T effector and T regulatory (Treg) cells regulate recall responses, typically impaired in allergy. We discovered distinct metabolomes of these cells in humans, differentially enriched in phenylalanine-related metabolites. Energy metabolism assessment in in vitro and ex vivo single-cell analyses revealed that increased intracellular L-phenylalanine boosts glycolysis while limiting oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in CD4+T, memory CD4+T, and Th2 cells, but not in Th1, Th17, or Treg cells. L-phenylalanine also restrains proliferation of memory CD4+T, Th2, and Th17 cells in an IL4I1-dependent manner and limits Th2 differentiation via inhibition of STAT6 and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. RNA sequencing, metabolomics, flow cytometry, and proteomics, validated both in vitro and across patient cohorts, revealed impaired LAT1-dependent transport of L-phenylalanine into Th2 cells in allergy, with increased intracellularAfter the primary response, circulating memory CD4+T effector and T regulatory (Treg) cells regulate recall responses, typically impaired in allergy. We discovered distinct metabolomes of these cells in humans, differentially enriched in phenylalanine-related metabolites. Energy metabolism assessment in in vitro and ex vivo single-cell analyses revealed that increased intracellular L-phenylalanine boosts glycolysis while limiting oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in CD4+T, memory CD4+T, and Th2 cells, but not in Th1, Th17, or Treg cells. L-phenylalanine also restrains proliferation of memory CD4+T, Th2, and Th17 cells in an IL4I1-dependent manner and limits Th2 differentiation via inhibition of STAT6 and mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. RNA sequencing, metabolomics, flow cytometry, and proteomics, validated both in vitro and across patient cohorts, revealed impaired LAT1-dependent transport of L-phenylalanine into Th2 cells in allergy, with increased intracellular processing accompanied by expansion of pathogenic Th2 cells. Thus, our study identifies L-phenylalanine as a checkpoint in Th2 cell development, energy metabolism, and function.show moreshow less

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Author:Abhijeet J. Kulkarni, Juan Rodriguez-Coira, Nino Stocker, Urszula Radzikowska, Antonio J. García-Cívico, María Isabel Delgado Dolset, Nuria Contreras, Inés Jardón Parages, Vanesa Saiz Sanchez, Pilar Serrano, Elena Izquierdo, Cristina Gomez-Casado, Javier Sanchez-Solares, Carmela Pablo-Torres, David Obeso, Carmen Moreno-Aguilar, Maria Luisa Espinazo, Andrzej Eljaszewicz, Jana KochORCiDGND, Katja Baerenfaller, Anja Heider, Ge Tan, Damir Zhakparov, Maria M. Escribese, Berta Ruiz-Leon, Cezmi A. Akdis, Rafael J. Argüello, Domingo Barber, Alma Villaseñor, Milena Sokolowska
URN:urn:nbn:de:bvb:384-opus4-1266305
Frontdoor URLhttps://opus.bibliothek.uni-augsburg.de/opus4/126630
ISSN:2666-3791OPAC
Parent Title (English):Cell Reports Medicine
Publisher:Elsevier BV
Place of publication:Amsterdam
Type:Article
Language:English
Year of first Publication:2025
Publishing Institution:Universität Augsburg
Release Date:2025/12/05
Volume:6
Issue:12
First Page:102466
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102466
Institutes:Medizinische Fakultät
Medizinische Fakultät / Lehrstuhl für Anatomie und Zellbiologie
Dewey Decimal Classification:6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
Licence (German):CC-BY 4.0: Creative Commons: Namensnennung