Pyruvate kinase muscle 2 (PKM2) promotes CD4 T cell survival by regulating pyruvate oxidation during homeostasis and expansion

Glycolysis is an essential metabolic pathway for rapidly expanding T cells, but the role of pyruvate kinase muscle 1 (PKM1) and PKM2 in regulating this process is underappreciated. Here, using a pharmacological activator and targeted deletion of PKM2 in T cells, we delineated distinct functions of PKM1 and PKM2 in regulating CD4 T cell survival during homeostasis and expansion. Expanding PKM2-deficient CD4 T cells increased PKM1 expression with associated mitochondrial reactive oxygen species-mediated cell death. Examination of T cell compartments revealed that PKM2-deficient CD4 T cells were unaltered in the thymus but were significantly reduced in peripheral tissues as mice aged. The inability of PKM1 to protect CD4 T cells in the absence of PKM2 led to less severe T cell-mediated colitis as PKM2-deficient pathogenic cells were significantly reduced compared with control cells. This study shows that PKM2 is critical for CD4 T cell survival during expansion and homeostasis.