Fatty acid desaturation by stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 controls regulatory T cell differentiation and autoimmunity

Elien Grajchen, Melanie Loix, Paulien Baeten, Beatriz F. Côrte-Real, Ibrahim Hamad, Sam Vanherle, Mansour Haidar, Jonas Dehairs, Jelle Y. Broos, James M. Ntambi, Robert Zimmermann, Rolf Breinbauer, Piet Stinissen, Niels Hellings, Sanne G. S. Verberk, Gijs Kooij, Martin Giera, Johannes V. Swinnen, Bieke Broux, Markus KleinewietfeldJerome J. A. Hendriks, Jeroen F. J. Bogie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The imbalance between pathogenic and protective T cell subsets is a cardinal feature of autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Emerging evidence indicates that endogenous and dietary-induced changes in fatty acid metabolism have a major impact on both T cell fate and autoimmunity. To date, however, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the impact of fatty acid metabolism on T cell physiology and autoimmunity remain poorly understood. Here, we report that stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1), an enzyme essential for the desaturation of fatty acids and highly regulated by dietary factors, acts as an endogenous brake on regulatory T-cell (Treg) differentiation and augments autoimmunity in an animal model of MS in a T cell-dependent manner. Guided by RNA sequencing and lipidomics analysis, we found that the absence of Scd1 in T cells promotes the hydrolysis of triglycerides and phosphatidylcholine through adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL). ATGL-dependent release of docosahexaenoic acid enhanced Treg differentiation by activating the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. Our findings identify fatty acid desaturation by SCD1 as an essential determinant of Treg differentiation and autoimmunity, with potentially broad implications for the development of novel therapeutic strategies and dietary interventions for autoimmune disorders such as MS.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)666-679
Number of pages14
JournalCellular & molecular immunology
Volume20
Issue number6
Early online date2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2023

Keywords

  • Autoimmunity
  • Fatty acid metabolism
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Regulatory T cells
  • Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1

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