Your immune cells are what they eat

Scientists have discovered that our specialized immune cells, called T cells, are what they eat -- their switch from functional to 'exhausted' depends on the switch from metabolizing acetate to metabolizing citrate. The findings link what T cells 'eat' and whether those T cells can continue fighting cancer or chronic diseases like HIV. With the new insight, scientists can optimize immunotherapy for patients by targeting the nutrients and enzymes involved in making and maintaining active, disease-fighting immune cells.