Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41616058›Full record

ArticleScience advances2026

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

Jeff J Subleski, Erika M Palmieri, Jessica F Walls, Steven Hsu, Ian A Bettencourt, Timothy R Gower, Scott K Durum, Daniel W McVicar

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Science advances, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jeff J SubleskiCancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, MD, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-7442-1807
Erika M PalmieriCancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, MD, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4237-5324
Jessica F WallsCancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, MD, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-2901-3318
Steven HsuCancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, MD, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-7591-530X
Ian A BettencourtCancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, MD, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8154-7670
Timothy R GowerFrederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick, MD, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-5611-921X
Scott K DurumCancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, MD, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-1307-9582
Daniel W McVicarCancer Innovation Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, MD, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-1112-5111

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

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.

Indexed as

CD4-Positive T-LymphocytesHomeostasisMembrane ProteinsPyruvate KinasePyruvic AcidThyroid HormonesAnimalsCell ProliferationCell SurvivalColitisMiceMice, KnockoutMitochondriaOxidation-ReductionReactive Oxygen SpeciesThyroid Hormone-Binding ProteinsMembrane ProteinsPkm protein, mousePyruvate KinasePyruvic AcidReactive Oxygen SpeciesThyroid Hormone-Binding ProteinsThyroid Hormones

Identifiers

PMID41616058
PMCPMC12857732

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.