Nrf2 regulates the activation-driven expansion of CD4⁺T-cells by differentially modulating glucose and glutamine metabolism

Abstract

Upon antigenic stimulation, CD4+T-cells undergo clonal expansion, elevating their bioenergetic demands and utilization of nutrients like glucose and glutamine. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a well-known regulator of oxidative stress, but its involvement in modulating the metabolism of CD4+T-cells remains unexplored. Here, we elucidate the role of Nrf2 beyond the traditional antioxidation, in modulating activation-driven expansion of CD4+Tcells by influencing their nutrient metabolism. T-cell-specific activation of Nrf2 enhances early activation and IL-2 secretion, upregulates TCR-signaling, and increases activation-driven proliferation of CD4+T-cells. Mechanistically, high Nrf2 inhibits glucose metabolism through glycolysis but promotes glutamine metabolism via glutaminolysis to support increased T-cell proliferation. Further, Nrf2 expression is temporally regulated in activated CD4+T cells with elevated expression during the early activation, but decreased expression thereafter. Overall, our findings uncover a novel role of Nrf2 as a metabolic modulator of CD4+T-cells, thus providing a framework for improving Nrf2-targeting therapies and T-cell immunotherapies.