Stem memory T cells (Tscm) constitute the earliest developmental stage of memory T cells, displaying stem cell-like properties, such as self-renewal capacity. Their superior immune reconstitution potential has sparked interest in cancer immune therapy, vaccine development, and immune reconstitution, whereas their role in autoimmunity is largely unexplored. Here we show that autoreactive CD8 Tscm specific for β-cell antigens GAD65, insulin, and IGRP are present in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). In vitro, the generation of autoreactive Tscm from naive precursors required the presence of the homeostatic cytokine interleukin-7 (IL-7). IL-7 promotes glucose uptake via overexpression of GLUT1 and upregulation of the glycolytic enzyme hexokinase 2. Even though metabolism depends on glucose uptake, the subsequent oxidation of pyruvate in the mitochondria was necessary for Tscm generation from naive precursors. In patients with T1D, high expression of GLUT1 was a hallmark of circulating Tscm, and targeting glucose uptake via GLUT1 using the selective inhibitor WZB117 resulted in inhibition of Tscm generation and expansion. Our results suggest that autoreactive Tscm are present in patients with T1D and can be selectively targeted by inhibition of glucose metabolism.

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Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS), which is reported to affect about 1 in 10,000 to 30,000 newborns, is a multisystem organ developmental disorder with relatively mild to severe effects. Among others, intellectual disability represents an important feature of this condition.Cornelia de Lange syndrome can result from mutations in at least five genes: NIPBL (nipped-B-like protein), SMC1A (structural maintenance of chromosomes 1A), SMC3 (structural maintenance of chromosomes 3), RAD21 (RAD21 Cohesin Complex Component), and HDAC8 (Histone deacetylase 8). It is believed that mutations in these genes cause CdLS by impairing the function of the cohesin complex (to which all the aforementioned genes contribute to the structure or function), disrupting gene regulation during critical stages of early development.Since intellectual disorder might result from alterations in neural development, in this work, we studied the role of Hdac8 gene in mouse neural stem cells and in vertebrate (D.rerio) brain development by knock-down and chemical inhibition experiments. An underlying features of Hdac8 deficiency is an increased cell death in the developing neural tissues, either in mouse NSCs and in zebrafish embryos.