Intracellular pH controls death and proliferation of lymphocytes in immune response and tumor cells

Abstract Cancer and highly proliferating normal cells have high demand for energy but paradoxically switch production from the efficient mitochondrial respiration to low cytosolic glycolysis. This phenomenon is known as Warburg effect, reason which not fully understood. study found that intracellular pH (pHi) induced apoptosis, whereas pHi enhanced proliferation, of lymphocytes. In tumor cells, also apoptosis maintained rates proliferation. draining mediastinal lymph nodes (MLNs) mice sensitized challenged with ovalbumin, lymphocytes had dramatically higher became more heterogeneous than in non-draining nodes. The was inversely related energetic activities, rise lymphocyte MLNs accompanied by reduction activities. Furthermore, proliferation powered strong led thereby predestined death apoptosis. These findings support a proposed explanation effect substitution allows avoid pHi-induced None