Lactate Regulates Metabolic and Pro-inflammatory Circuits in Control of T Cell Migration and Effector Functions

Lactate has long been considered a "waste" by-product of cell metabolism, and it accumulates at sites of inflammation. Recent findings have identified lactate as an active metabolite in cell signalling, although its effects on immune cells during inflammation are largely unexplored. Here we ask whether lactate is responsible for T cells remaining entrapped in inflammatory sites, where they perpetuate the chronic inflammatory process. We show that lactate accumulates in the synovia of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Extracellular sodium lactate and lactic acid inhibit the motility of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, respectively. This selective control of T cell motility is mediated via subtype-specific transporters…

• QM
  Queen Mary University of London
• BH
  British Heart Foundation

  Award: FS/12/38/29640
• IC
  Imperial College London
• UW
  Universität Wien
• MU
  Medizinische Universität Wien
• MR
  Medical Research Council

  Award: MR/K020250/1
• QM
  Queen Mary Innovation