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    Mitochondrial ABHD11 inhibition drives sterol metabolism to modulate T-cell effector function


    Jenkins, Benjamin J., Jenkins, Yasmin R., Ponce-Garcia, Fernando M., Moscrop, Chloe, Perry, Iain A., Hitchings, Matthew D., Uribe, Alejandro H., Bernuzzi, Federico, Eastham, Simon, Cronin, James G., Berisha, Ardena, Howell, Alexandra, Davies, Joanne, Blagih, Julianna, Williams, Marta, Marsden, Morgan, Veale, Douglas J., Davies, Luke C., Niphakis, Micah, Finlay, David K., Sinclair, Linda V., Cravatt, Benjamin F., Hogan, Andrew E., Nathan, James A., Humphreys, Ian R., Fearon, Ursula, Sumpton, David, Vande Voorde, Johan, Vale, Goncalo Dias do, McDonald, Jeffrey G., Jones, Gareth W., Pearson, James A., Vincent, Emma E. and Jones, Nicholas (2025) Mitochondrial ABHD11 inhibition drives sterol metabolism to modulate T-cell effector function. Nature Communications, 16 (1). ISSN 2041-1723

    Abstract

    α/β-hydrolase domain-containing protein 11 (ABHD11) is a mitochondrial hydrolase that maintains the catalytic function of α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (α-KGDH), and its expression in CD4 + T-cells has been linked to remission status in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the importance of ABHD11 in regulating T-cell metabolism and function is yet to be explored. Here, we show that pharmacological inhibition of ABHD11 dampens cytokine production by human and mouse T-cells. Mechanistically, the anti-inflammatory effects of ABHD11 inhibition are attributed to increased 24,25-epoxycholesterol (24,25-EC) biosynthesis and subsequent liver X receptor (LXR) activation, which arise from a compromised TCA cycle. The impaired cytokine profile established by ABHD11 inhibition is extended to two patient cohorts of autoimmunity. Importantly, using murine models of accelerated type 1 diabetes (T1D), we show that targeting ABHD11 suppresses cytokine production in antigen-specific T-cells and delays the onset of diabetes in vivo in female mice. Collectively, our work provides pre-clinical evidence that ABHD11 is an encouraging drug target in T-cell-mediated inflammation.
    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: Mitochondrial ABHD11 inhibition; sterol metabolism; modulate T-cell effector function;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology
    Item ID: 21370
    Identification Number: 10.1038/s41467-025-65417-4
    Depositing User: IR Editor
    Date Deposited: 30 Mar 2026 15:33
    Journal or Publication Title: Nature Communications
    Publisher: Nature Publshing Group
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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