Cited by 140T-cell and B-cell ImmunologyDiet and metabolism studiesImmune cells in cancer

Ketolysis drives CD8+ T cell effector function through effects on histone acetylation

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Luda, Katarzyna M., Longo, Joseph, Kitchen-Goosen, Susan M., Duimstra, Lauren R., Ma, Eric H., Watson, McLane J., Oswald, Brandon M., Fu, Zhen +19 more·2023·Immunity

Abstract

Environmental nutrient availability influences T cell metabolism, impacting T cell function and shaping immune outcomes. Here, we identified ketone bodies (KBs)—including β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) and acetoacetate (AcAc)—as essential fuels supporting CD8 + T cell metabolism and effector function. βOHB directly increased CD8 + T effector (Teff) cell cytokine production and cytolytic activity, and KB oxidation (ketolysis) was required for Teff cell responses to bacterial infection and tumor challenge. CD8 + Teff cells preferentially used KBs over glucose to fuel the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in vitro and in vivo . KBs directly boosted the respiratory capacity and TCA cycle-dependent metabolic pathways that fuel CD8 + T cell function. Mechanistically, βOHB was a major substrate for acetyl-CoA production in CD8 + T cells and regulated effector responses through effects on histone acetylation. Together, our results identify cell-intrinsic ketolysis as a metabolic and epigenetic driver of optimal CD8 + T cell effector responses.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.07.002

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  • In response to bacterial infection and tumor, ketone bodies enhanced respiratory capacity and TCA cycle-dependent metabolic pathways that support CD8+ T cell function.

    “In response to bacterial infection and tumor, ketone bodies enhanced the respiratory capacity and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle-dependent metabolic pathways that support CD8+ T cell function.”
  • β-OHB influenced CD8+ T cell effector responses by affecting histone acetylation.

    “β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) served as a key substrate for acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) production in CD8+ T cells and influenced their effector responses by affecting histone acetylation.13”
  • β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) served as a key substrate for acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) production in CD8+ T cells.

    “β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) served as a key substrate for acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) production in CD8+ T cells and influenced their effector responses by affecting histone acetylation.13”

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  1. [80]80. Dickson, B.M. ∙ Kupai, A. ∙ Vaughan, R.M. ... Theoretical and practical refinements of sans spike-in quantitative ChIP-seq with application to p300/CBP inhibition Preprint at bioRxiv 2022 Crossref Google Scholar

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Authors
Luda, K. M., Longo, J., Kitchen-Goosen, S. M., Duimstra, L. R., Ma, E. H., Watson, M. J., Oswald, B. M., Fu, Z., Madaj, Z., Kupai, A., Dickson, B. M., DeCamp, L. M., Dahabieh, M. S., Compton, S. E., Teis, R., Kaymak, I., Lau, K. H., Kelly, D. P., Puchalska, P., Williams, K. S., Krawczyk, C. M., Lévesque, D., Boisvert, F.-M., Sheldon, R. D., Rothbart, S. B., Crawford, P. A., & Jones, R. G.
Affiliations
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • Van Andel Institute (US)
  • University of Pennsylvania (US)
  • University of Minnesota (US)
  • Université de Sherbrooke (CA)
Corresponding author
Jones, Russell G.
Venue
Immunity
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2023-09
Volume
56
Issue
9
Pages
2021-2035.e8
ISSN
1074-7613 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4385351665
Cited by
140
References
82
Citations by year
2026: 44 · 2025: 52 · 2024: 38 · 2023: 6
FWCI
15.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Immunity (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (AG069781)
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (281824, 181903_1)
  • Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Santé (281824)
  • National Institute on Aging (AG069781, R01AG069781)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL128349, R01HL151345)
  • National Cancer Institute (T32CA251066)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R35GM124736)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R21AI153997, R01AI165722)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK091538, R01DK091538)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Diet and metabolism studies
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune cells in cancer
Keywords
ketolysis, ketone bodies, beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, CD8+ T cells, T cell metabolism, histone acetylation, acetyl-CoA, TCA cycle, cytokine production, cytotoxicity, bacterial infection, antitumor immunity, epigenetic regulation, glucose metabolism
MeSH terms
Acetylation, Animals, Histones, Ketone Bodies, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, 3-Hydroxybutyric Acid, Mice

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