Revving the engine: signal transduction fuels T cell activation

Russell G Jones1, Craig B Thompson

  • 1Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

Immunity
|August 29, 2007
PubMed
Summary

T cells need to change their metabolism to activate and respond to immune challenges. This study reviews how receptor signaling influences these metabolic changes. The authors suggest that signal transduction is a key driver of immune activation. They synthesize findings from prior studies to clarify how signaling events regulate energy production. The review highlights the importance of understanding these pathways for modulating immune responses. No prior work had resolved the exact mechanisms of this process. The findings indicate that signaling events are tightly linked to metabolic outcomes. This synthesis supports the idea that immune responses depend on metabolic reprogramming.

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