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Measuring Mitochondrial Function of Naïve and Effector CD8 T Cells
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Measuring Mitochondrial Function of Naïve and Effector CD8 T Cells

Published on: March 28, 2025

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Arming a killer: mitochondrial regulation of CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity

Miriam Lisci1, Gillian M Griffiths1

  • 1Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK.

Trends in Cell Biology
|June 26, 2022
PubMed

While once regarded as ATP factories, mitochondria have taken the spotlight as important regulators of cellular homeostasis. The past two decades have witnessed an intensifying interest in the study of mitochondria in cells of the immune system, with many new and unexpected roles for mitochondria emerging. Immune cells offer intriguing insights as mitochondria appear to play different roles at different stages of T cell development, matching the changing functions of the cells. Here we briefly review the multifaceted roles of mitochondria during T cell differentiation, focusing on CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and we consider how mitochondrial dysfunction can contribute to CTL exhaustion. In addition, we highlight a newly appreciated role for mitochondria as homeostatic regulators of CTL-mediated killing and explore the emerging literature describing mechanisms linking cytosolic and mitochondrial protein synthesis.

Keywords:
CD8CTLT cellexhaustionmitochondriamitochondrial translation

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