Productive T cell responses to infection and cancer rely on coordinated metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic remodeling among the immune cells. In particular, T cell effector and memory differentiation, exhaustion, and senescence/aging are tightly regulated by the metabolism-epigenetics axis. In this review, we summarize recent advances of how metabolic circuits combined with epigenetic changes dictate T cell fate decisions and shape their functional states. We also discuss how the metabolic-epigenetic axis orchestrates T cell exhaustion and explore how physiological factors, such as diet, gut microbiota, and the circadian clock, are integrated in shaping T cell epigenetic modifications and functionality. Furthermore, we summarize key features of the senescent/aged T cells and discuss how to ameliorate vaccination- and COVID-induced T cell dysfunctions by metabolic modulations. An in-depth understanding of the unexplored links between cellular metabolism and epigenetic modifications in various physiological or pathological contexts has the potential to uncover novel therapeutic strategies for fine-tuning T cell immunity.

Author Info: (1) Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland. (2) Dep artment of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland. (3) Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland. Electronic address: yi-ru.yu@unil.ch. (4) Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou 215123, China. Electronic address: zlj@ism.cams.cn. (5) Department of Fundamental Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland. Electronic address: ping-chih.ho@unil.ch.