DC 6 - The role of fatty acid desaturation in T cell differentiation and function

• Objectives:

1. Understand the role of Scd1 and fatty acid desaturation in Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg cells differentiation 
2. Dissect the mechanisms by which Scd1 and fatty acid desaturation influences T cell differentiation and function
3. Explore how high-fat diets and diets rich in unsaturated FAs influence T cell lipid metabolism in specific tissues
4. Test the ability of pharmacological inhibitors (such as Scd1 inhibitors) to treat inflammatory diseases using preclinical mouse and human models

• Brief project description:

T cells orchestrate adaptive immune responses and play a central role in immune-mediated diseases. Their differentiation into inflammatory or regulatory subsets is tightly regulated by cellular metabolism, which provides not only bioenergetic support but also critical signalling cues. In recent years, lipid metabolism has emerged as a key regulator of T cell fate and function. However, how specific lipid metabolic pathways, such as fatty acid desaturation, shape T cell differentiation and immune balance across disease contexts remains insufficiently understood.

This project explores how fatty acid desaturation, focusing on the metabolic enzyme stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), regulates T cell function in health and inflammatory disease settings, with the aim of advancing metabolism-based strategies to modulate immune responses.

• Planned secondments:

David Finlay lab (TCD, Irland)
• Learn the use of Click chemistry-based uptake assays with fatty acids of varying chain lengths and saturation

Zezina lab (Sanofi, Germany)
• Validate SCD1 as target using human T cells.