Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology (Jan 2024)

Fatty Acid Oxidation Promotes Apoptotic Resistance and Proinflammatory Phenotype of CD4+ Tissue-resident Memory T cells in Crohn’s DiseaseSummary

  • Guanzhan Liang,
  • Junfeng Huang,
  • Jing Chen,
  • Xiaofeng Wen,
  • Ruibing Li,
  • Hanlin Xie,
  • Zongjin Zhang,
  • Zexian Chen,
  • Yongle Chen,
  • Zhenyu Xian,
  • Xiaowen He,
  • Jia Ke,
  • Lei Lian,
  • Ping Lan,
  • Xianrui Wu,
  • Tuo Hu

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 6
pp. 939 – 964

Abstract

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Background & Aims: As the most abundant memory T cells and major source of tumor necrosis factor α in the intestinal mucosa of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients, CD4+ tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells play a critical role in CD pathogenesis. We investigated the role of metabolic reprogramming in the regulation of proinflammatory and apoptosis-resistant phenotype for CD4+ TRM cells. Methods: CD4+ TRM cells were collected from intestinal resection tissues from control and CD patients. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis were performed to identify metabolic characteristics of CD4+ TRM cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative polymerase chain reaction experiments were used to assess cytokines level in CD4+ TRM cells; activation-induced cell apoptosis rate was evaluated by flow cytometry. Transwell assay and wound healing assay were performed to detect the effect of CD4+ TRM cells on the migration of normal intestinal epithelial cells. Results: Transcriptomic data combined with unbiased metabolomic analysis revealed an increased fatty acid oxidation (FAO) phenotype existed in CD4+ TRM cells from CD patients. The lipidomic data and stable isotope tracer experiments demonstrated that CD4+ TRM cells up-regulated their lipid lipolysis and fatty acid uptake to fuel FAO in CD patients. Mechanistically, the activated nuclear factor kappa B signaling increased transcription of genes involved in lipid lipolysis, fatty acid uptake, and oxidation in CD4+ TRM cells from CD patients. Targeting FAO of CD4+ TRM cells reversed their apoptosis-resistant and proinflammatory phenotype in CD patients. Conclusions: CD4+ TRM cells process an accelerated FAO mediated by activated nuclear factor kappa B signaling in CD patients; targeting FAO could reverse their apoptosis-resistant and proinflammatory phenotype. These findings shed a new light on the pathogenic mechanism investigation and novel therapy development in CD patients.

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