Vitamin D supports activated CD4+ T-cell proliferation through enhanced glutaminolysis - Summary - MDSpire

Vitamin D supports activated CD4+ T-cell proliferation through enhanced glutaminolysis

  • By

  • Agustín A. Vera

  • Mauricio Hernandez

  • Ricardo A. Cartes

  • Faryd Llerena

  • Solange E. Cisterna

  • Romina A. Quiroga

  • Sergio A. Sanhueza

  • Camila P. Muñoz-Grez

  • Francisco Vergara

  • Daniel Moena

  • Pablo A. Alarcón

  • Rafael Burgos

  • Coralia I. Rivas

  • Elena Uribe

  • Rafael J. Argüello

  • Cristopher Almarza

  • Felix A. Urra

  • Francisco Tapia-Belmonte

  • Luciano Ferrada

  • Liliana I. Lamperti

  • Estefanía Nova-Lamperti

  • June 11, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To investigate the role of glutaminolysis in cell number, viability, and glutamine transport in CD4+ T lymphocytes activated in the presence of Vitamin D, focusing on metabolic pathways.

Approach:
    Key Findings:
    • Vitamin D treatment led to increased CD4+ T cell numbers despite reduced glucose uptake and lactate production.
    • Proteomic analysis showed increased expression of glutaminase, glutamate dehydrogenase, and CD38, indicating enhanced glutaminolysis.
    • Inhibition of VDR, glutamine uptake, or glutaminase activity significantly reduced T cell expansion.
    • Prolonged cultures showed that Vitamin D ultimately restricted proliferation, but supplementation with glutamine and Vitamin D restored cell expansion.
    Interpretation:

    Vitamin D promotes CD4+ T cell expansion through glutaminolysis, functioning independently of classical glycolytic pathways, while also fostering metabolic resilience.

    Limitations:
    • The study primarily focuses on early T cell activation and does not explore long-term effects of Vitamin D on T cell function, which may limit understanding of its full impact.
    • The specific mechanisms by which Vitamin D modulates glutamine metabolism require further investigation to clarify its role in T cell biology.
    Conclusion:

    Vitamin D enhances CD4+ T cell proliferation via glutaminolysis, suggesting a complex role in T cell metabolism that warrants further exploration.

Original Source(s)

Vitamin D supports activated CD4+ T-cell proliferation through enhanced glutaminolysis

  • by Agustín A. Vera, Mauricio Hernandez, Ricardo A. Cartes, Faryd Llerena, Solange E. Cisterna, Romina A. Quiroga, Sergio A. Sanhueza, Camila P. Muñoz-Grez, Francisco Vergara, Daniel Moena, Pablo A. Alarcón, Rafael Burgos, Coralia I. Rivas, Elena Uribe, Rafael J. Argüello, Cristopher Almarza, Felix A. Urra, Francisco Tapia-Belmonte, Luciano Ferrada, Liliana I. Lamperti, Estefanía Nova-Lamperti

  • June 11, 2026

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