Mitochondrial Damage and the Road to Exhaustion

Cell Metab. 2020 Dec 1;32(6):905-907. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2020.11.004.

Abstract

Two recent studies published in Nature Immunology map out the link between dysregulated mitochondrial metabolism and terminal exhaustion of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes. Yu et al. (2020) and Vardhana et al. (2020) show that defective mitophagy or impaired oxidative phosphorylation triggers mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production, which in turn promotes a T cell exhaustion program, limiting T cell proliferation and self-renewal.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitophagy
  • Oxidative Phosphorylation*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes*

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species