Immune checkpoint molecules and glucose metabolism in HIV-Induced T cell exhaustion

• Main Authors: Chan, Yee Teng, Cheong, Heng Choon, Tang, Ting Fang, Rajasuriar, Reena, Cheng, Kian-Kai, Looi, Chung Yeng, Wong, Won Fen, Kamarulzaman, Adeeba
• Format: Article
• Published: MDPI 2022
• Subjects: RA Public aspects of medicine; RC Internal medicine
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/40733/
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

The progressive decline of CD8(+) cytotoxic T cells in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients due to infection-triggered cell exhaustion and cell death is significantly correlated with disease severity and progression into the life-threatening acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) stage. T cell exhaustion is a condition of cell dysfunction despite antigen engagement, characterized by augmented surface expression of immune checkpoint molecules such as programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), which suppress T cell receptor (TCR) signaling and negatively impact the proliferative and effector activities of T cells. T cell function is tightly modulated by cellular glucose metabolism, which produces adequate energy to support a robust reaction when battling pathogen infection. The transition of the T cells from an active to an exhausted state following pathogen persistence involves a drastic change in metabolic activity. This review highlights the interplay between immune checkpoint molecules and glucose metabolism that contributes to T cell exhaustion in the context of chronic HIV infection, which could deliver an insight into the rational design of a novel therapeutic strategy.