ABC Transporters in T Cell-Mediated Physiological and Pathological Immune Responses |
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| Authors: | Christoph Thurm Burkhart Schraven Sascha Kahlfuss |
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| Affiliation: | 1.Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany; (C.T.); (B.S.);2.Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation (GCI-3), Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany;3.Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany |
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| Abstract: | ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters represent a heterogeneous group of ATP-dependent transport proteins, which facilitate the import and/or export of various substrates, including lipids, sugars, amino acids and peptides, ions, and drugs. ABC transporters are involved in a variety of physiological processes in different human tissues. More recent studies have demonstrated that ABC transporters also regulate the development and function of different T cell populations, such as thymocytes, Natural Killer T cells, CD8+ T cells, and CD4+ T helper cells, including regulatory T cells. Here, we review the current knowledge on ABC transporters in these T cell populations by summarizing how ABC transporters regulate the function of the individual cell types and how this affects the immunity to viruses and tumors, and the course of autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, we provide a perspective on how a better understanding of the function of ABC transporters in T cells might provide promising novel avenues for the therapy of autoimmunity and to improve immunity to infection and cancer. |
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| Keywords: | ABC transporters T cells Th1 cells Th2 cells Th17 cells Immunometabolism metabolism immunity to infection autoimmunity allergy bacteria fungi |
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