T cells that drive autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) show dysregulated metabolic rewiring that favors increased requirements for energy. Targeting the metabolomes of these autoimmune T cells may be therapeutically beneficial. Drugs approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes that alter the metabolic profile of cells have been successfully repurposed for use in some autoimmune disorders. For example, metformin has been shown to reduce the incidence of severe flare-ups in SLE patients. Inhibitors of Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2, called SGLT2 for short, are a class of type 2 diabetes drugs that target the SGLT2 transporter and prevent glucose reabsorption in the kidneys. One example of an SGLT2 inhibitor is canagliflozin, which has been shown to improve renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease and cardiac function in patients with heart failure. Here, scientists explored the impact of canagliflozin on human T cell function and its potential role in ameliorating autoimmunity. Their fascinating findings were published in the journal Cell Metabolism in 2023.

Adapted from: Jenkins et al., Cell Metab. 2023 Jul 11;35(7):1132-1146.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.05.001. Epub 2023 May 24.

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