Succinate facilities CD4+ T cell infiltration and CCL1 production to promote myofibroblast activation and obstruction-induced renal fibrosis

To understand the roles of succinate in CD4+ T cells, we performed RNA sequencing of isolated spleen CD4+ T cells treated with or without cell membrane permeable dimethyl succinate, which can enter into T cells and increase intracellular succinate concentration. The treatment led to upregulation of genes associated with T cell activation, including cell shape, inflammatory response, meiotic nuclear division, and leukocyte migration. These results suggest that succinate promotes CD4+ T cell activation. Overall design: Bulk RNA sequencing was performed in spleen CD4+ T cells treated with or without three days of dimethyl succinate.