Research Progress of T Cell Metabolism in Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common and severe complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). It is caused by activated alloreactive T cells that attack recipient target organs and represents a major cause of non-relapse mortality, thereby limiting the efficacy of allo-HSCT. Persistent alloantigen stimulation can induce metabolic dysregulation in T cells, involving pathways such as glycolysis, lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Given the close relationship between T cell metabolism and T cell activation, differentiation, and effector functions, targeted modulation of T cell metabolism may emerge as a novel strategy for the prevention and treatment of GVHD. This review summarizes the roles of major T cell metabolic pathways in the pathogenesis and progression of GVHD with the aim of informing future mechanistic studies and therapeutic strategies.