Inhibition of the Na+-glucose transporter SGLT2 reduces glucose uptake and IFNγ release from activated human CD4+ T cells

Glucose uptake in activated CD4+ T cells is essential for increased metabolic needs, synthesis of biomolecules and proliferation. Although, facilitated glucose transport is the predominant route for glucose entry at the time of activation, here we demonstrate role for the sodium-dependent glucose tr...

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Main Authors: Zhe Jin, Hayma Hammoud, Amol K. Bhandage, Stasini Koreli, Azazul Islam Chowdhury, Peter Bergsten, Bryndis Birnir
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1576216/full
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author Zhe Jin
Hayma Hammoud
Amol K. Bhandage
Stasini Koreli
Azazul Islam Chowdhury
Peter Bergsten
Bryndis Birnir
author_facet Zhe Jin
Hayma Hammoud
Amol K. Bhandage
Stasini Koreli
Azazul Islam Chowdhury
Peter Bergsten
Bryndis Birnir
author_sort Zhe Jin
collection DOAJ
description Glucose uptake in activated CD4+ T cells is essential for increased metabolic needs, synthesis of biomolecules and proliferation. Although, facilitated glucose transport is the predominant route for glucose entry at the time of activation, here we demonstrate role for the sodium-dependent glucose transporter SGLT2. By 72 h after activation, SGLT2 is expressed and functional in the human CD4+ T cells. SGLT2 inhibitors, phlorizin and empagliflozin decreased glucose uptake into the human CD4+ T cells compared to untreated cells. Phlorizin (25 μmol/L) reduced glycolysis at 5.6 mmol/L glucose and IFNγ levels at both 5.6 mmol/L and 16.7 mmol/L glucose. In contrast, empagliflozin (0.5 μmol/L) only decreased IFNγ levels in 16.7 mmol/L glucose. GABA enhanced phlorizin inhibition at both 5.6 mmol/L and 16.7 mmol/L glucose in the presence of insulin. Insulin strengthens GABAA receptors signaling in CD4+ T cells. The results are consistent with expression of SGLT2 after activation of human CD4+ T cells, that facilitates concentrating glucose uptake into the cells, enabling enhanced release of inflammatory molecules like IFNγ. Importantly, inhibition of SGLT2 decreases IFNγ release.
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spelling doaj-art-8f5cba2773bf430e9e8008e8b6dab6292025-08-20T02:39:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-06-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15762161576216Inhibition of the Na+-glucose transporter SGLT2 reduces glucose uptake and IFNγ release from activated human CD4+ T cellsZhe JinHayma HammoudAmol K. BhandageStasini KoreliAzazul Islam ChowdhuryPeter BergstenBryndis BirnirGlucose uptake in activated CD4+ T cells is essential for increased metabolic needs, synthesis of biomolecules and proliferation. Although, facilitated glucose transport is the predominant route for glucose entry at the time of activation, here we demonstrate role for the sodium-dependent glucose transporter SGLT2. By 72 h after activation, SGLT2 is expressed and functional in the human CD4+ T cells. SGLT2 inhibitors, phlorizin and empagliflozin decreased glucose uptake into the human CD4+ T cells compared to untreated cells. Phlorizin (25 μmol/L) reduced glycolysis at 5.6 mmol/L glucose and IFNγ levels at both 5.6 mmol/L and 16.7 mmol/L glucose. In contrast, empagliflozin (0.5 μmol/L) only decreased IFNγ levels in 16.7 mmol/L glucose. GABA enhanced phlorizin inhibition at both 5.6 mmol/L and 16.7 mmol/L glucose in the presence of insulin. Insulin strengthens GABAA receptors signaling in CD4+ T cells. The results are consistent with expression of SGLT2 after activation of human CD4+ T cells, that facilitates concentrating glucose uptake into the cells, enabling enhanced release of inflammatory molecules like IFNγ. Importantly, inhibition of SGLT2 decreases IFNγ release.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1576216/fullglucose uptakeT cellsSGLT2GLUT1immunomodulationIFNγ
spellingShingle Zhe Jin
Hayma Hammoud
Amol K. Bhandage
Stasini Koreli
Azazul Islam Chowdhury
Peter Bergsten
Bryndis Birnir
Inhibition of the Na+-glucose transporter SGLT2 reduces glucose uptake and IFNγ release from activated human CD4+ T cells
Frontiers in Immunology
glucose uptake
T cells
SGLT2
GLUT1
immunomodulation
IFNγ
title Inhibition of the Na+-glucose transporter SGLT2 reduces glucose uptake and IFNγ release from activated human CD4+ T cells
title_full Inhibition of the Na+-glucose transporter SGLT2 reduces glucose uptake and IFNγ release from activated human CD4+ T cells
title_fullStr Inhibition of the Na+-glucose transporter SGLT2 reduces glucose uptake and IFNγ release from activated human CD4+ T cells
title_full_unstemmed Inhibition of the Na+-glucose transporter SGLT2 reduces glucose uptake and IFNγ release from activated human CD4+ T cells
title_short Inhibition of the Na+-glucose transporter SGLT2 reduces glucose uptake and IFNγ release from activated human CD4+ T cells
title_sort inhibition of the na glucose transporter sglt2 reduces glucose uptake and ifnγ release from activated human cd4 t cells
topic glucose uptake
T cells
SGLT2
GLUT1
immunomodulation
IFNγ
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1576216/full
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