Journal Article DKFZ-2026-00649

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png
DGAT1 mediates sex-specific CD8+ T cell antitumour responses.

 ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;  ;

2026
Springer Nature [London]

Nature metabolism 8, 685–703 () [10.1038/s42255-026-01462-7]
 GO

Abstract: Fatty acid (FA) oxidation plays an important role in T cell responses. However, whether DGAT1-mediated FA esterification to triacylglycerol also regulates T cell function remains unclear. Here we uncover a sexually dimorphic requirement for DGAT1 expression in CD8+ tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte function. In female mice, T cell-specific Dgat1 deficiency improves mitochondrial metabolic fitness and expands the pool of progenitor exhausted CD8+ T (Tex) cells to sustain antitumour responses. In male mice, however, Dgat1 deficiency leads to FA peroxidation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and CD8+ Tex cell death. We show that these effects are mediated by androgen receptor (AR) signalling. Deletion of Ar, overexpression of glutathione peroxidase 4, or inhibition of ER stress-induced cell death rescues Dgat1-deficient CD8+ T cell survival and promotes antitumour responses in male mice. Overall, this study suggests that DGAT1 detoxifies AR signalling in male mice to protect against ER stress-induced cell death and maintain T cell stemness, and uncovers sex-specific metabolic adaptations in the tumour microenvironment.

Classification:

Note: #EA:D192#LA:D192# / T Cell Metabolism, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ / volume 8, pages 685–703 (2026)

Contributing Institute(s):
  1. T-Zell-Metabolismus (D192)
  2. Immundiversität (D150)
  3. Elektronenmikroskopie (W230)
  4. NWG Tumorprogression und Metastasierung (A013)
  5. Personalisierte Medizinische Onkologie (A420)
Research Program(s):
  1. 314 - Immunologie und Krebs (POF4-314) (POF4-314)

Appears in the scientific report 2026
Database coverage:
Medline ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; DEAL Nature ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 20 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection
Click to display QR Code for this record

The record appears in these collections:
Document types > Articles > Journal Article
Public records
Publications database

 Record created 2026-03-24, last modified 2026-05-06


Fulltext:
Download fulltext PDF Download fulltext PDF (PDFA)
Rate this document:

Rate this document:
1
2
3
 
(Not yet reviewed)