Protein Synthesis and Metabolism in T Cells

T lymphocytes are essential for immune responses to pathogens and tumors. Their ability to rapidly clonally expand and differentiate to effector cells following infection, and then to curb effector function following infection clearance, is fundamental for adaptive immunity. Proteome remodeling in response to immune activation is a fundamental mechanism that allows T cells to swiftly reprogram for acquisition of effector function and is possible only because antigen receptor- and cytokine-driven signal transduction pathways can trigger massive increases in protein synthesis. Equally, the ability to repress protein synthesis supports a return to quiescence once pathogens are cleared to avoid autoimmunity and to generate memory T cell populations. This review discusses what is known about T cell proteomes and the regulatory mechanisms that control protein synthesis in T cells. The focus is on how this fundamental process is dynamically controlled to ensure immune homeostasis.