Effects of lactate concentration on T‐cell phenotype and mitochondrial respiration

Abstract Lactate is a critical regulator of cellular processes and immune signaling, and we hypothesize that exercise‐induced elevations in lactate help activate immune cells in response to vigorous exercise. Despite its importance, the impact of lactate on T‐cell mitochondrial respiration remains p...

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Main Authors: Eunhan Cho, Guillaume Spielmann, Brian A. Irving
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Physiological Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70450
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author Eunhan Cho
Guillaume Spielmann
Brian A. Irving
author_facet Eunhan Cho
Guillaume Spielmann
Brian A. Irving
author_sort Eunhan Cho
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Lactate is a critical regulator of cellular processes and immune signaling, and we hypothesize that exercise‐induced elevations in lactate help activate immune cells in response to vigorous exercise. Despite its importance, the impact of lactate on T‐cell mitochondrial respiration remains poorly understood. This study examines the impact of exposure to physiologically relevant lactate concentrations (0.5 and 4.0 mM) on the mitochondrial respiration of resting T‐cells. Resting T‐cells were isolated from 12 healthy participants (mean ± SD, 26.8 ± 3.5 years) and cultured in a plasma‐like medium with either 0.5 mM (control) or 4 mM lactate for 1 h to mimic resting and vigorous exercise conditions. The composition of T‐cell subsets was characterized using flow cytometry, and mitochondrial respiration was measured using high‐resolution respirometry. Exposure to 4 mM lactate significantly increased mitochondrial oxygen flow (IO2, pmols∙s−1 million T‐cells−1) across all respiratory states compared to the control condition (0.5 mM) (all p < 0.01), suggesting an enhanced capacity for oxidative phosphorylation compared to the control. This study demonstrates that lactate preconditions T‐cells and leads to enhanced mitochondrial respiration, offering insights into immune cell metabolism under exercise‐like conditions, independent of exercise‐induced differential mobilization of immune cell subsets.
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spelling doaj-art-82dafb46cdbb4e0ba01442c9425bdc242025-08-20T02:48:05ZengWileyPhysiological Reports2051-817X2025-07-011314n/an/a10.14814/phy2.70450Effects of lactate concentration on T‐cell phenotype and mitochondrial respirationEunhan Cho0Guillaume Spielmann1Brian A. Irving2School of Kinesiology Louisiana State University Baton Rouge Louisiana USASchool of Kinesiology Louisiana State University Baton Rouge Louisiana USASchool of Kinesiology Louisiana State University Baton Rouge Louisiana USAAbstract Lactate is a critical regulator of cellular processes and immune signaling, and we hypothesize that exercise‐induced elevations in lactate help activate immune cells in response to vigorous exercise. Despite its importance, the impact of lactate on T‐cell mitochondrial respiration remains poorly understood. This study examines the impact of exposure to physiologically relevant lactate concentrations (0.5 and 4.0 mM) on the mitochondrial respiration of resting T‐cells. Resting T‐cells were isolated from 12 healthy participants (mean ± SD, 26.8 ± 3.5 years) and cultured in a plasma‐like medium with either 0.5 mM (control) or 4 mM lactate for 1 h to mimic resting and vigorous exercise conditions. The composition of T‐cell subsets was characterized using flow cytometry, and mitochondrial respiration was measured using high‐resolution respirometry. Exposure to 4 mM lactate significantly increased mitochondrial oxygen flow (IO2, pmols∙s−1 million T‐cells−1) across all respiratory states compared to the control condition (0.5 mM) (all p < 0.01), suggesting an enhanced capacity for oxidative phosphorylation compared to the control. This study demonstrates that lactate preconditions T‐cells and leads to enhanced mitochondrial respiration, offering insights into immune cell metabolism under exercise‐like conditions, independent of exercise‐induced differential mobilization of immune cell subsets.https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70450flow cytometryhigh resolution respirometryimmunometabolismL‐lactatepreconditioningT‐cell bioenergetics
spellingShingle Eunhan Cho
Guillaume Spielmann
Brian A. Irving
Effects of lactate concentration on T‐cell phenotype and mitochondrial respiration
Physiological Reports
flow cytometry
high resolution respirometry
immunometabolism
L‐lactate
preconditioning
T‐cell bioenergetics
title Effects of lactate concentration on T‐cell phenotype and mitochondrial respiration
title_full Effects of lactate concentration on T‐cell phenotype and mitochondrial respiration
title_fullStr Effects of lactate concentration on T‐cell phenotype and mitochondrial respiration
title_full_unstemmed Effects of lactate concentration on T‐cell phenotype and mitochondrial respiration
title_short Effects of lactate concentration on T‐cell phenotype and mitochondrial respiration
title_sort effects of lactate concentration on t cell phenotype and mitochondrial respiration
topic flow cytometry
high resolution respirometry
immunometabolism
L‐lactate
preconditioning
T‐cell bioenergetics
url https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70450
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AT guillaumespielmann effectsoflactateconcentrationontcellphenotypeandmitochondrialrespiration
AT brianairving effectsoflactateconcentrationontcellphenotypeandmitochondrialrespiration