Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42208151›Full record

ArticleEBioMedicine2026

Targeting pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) reduces T cell pathogenicity in multiple sclerosis.

Elena Ellmeier, Alyssa Schnabl, Julia Meissel, Anika Stracke, Sonja Rittchen, Lisa Stöger, Christina A Passegger, Lena Schwarzl, Cansu Tafrali, Rina Demjaha and 13 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in EBioMedicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

23 authors.

Elena EllmeierDivision of Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Alyssa SchnablDivision of Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Julia MeisselDivision of Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Anika StrackeDivision of Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Sonja RittchenDivision of Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Lisa StögerDivision of Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Christina A PasseggerDivision of Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Lena SchwarzlDivision of Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Cansu TafraliDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Rina DemjahaDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Maria Martinez-SerratDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Timothy KaiserDivision of Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Lisa-Carina ZeilerDivision of Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Katharina SeifriedDivision of Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Alina ToplerDivision of Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Isabella KlemenDivision of Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Bettina HeschlDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Anna DamulinaDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Marah C RuntschDivision of Oncology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Johannes FesslerDivision of Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Edith HoferDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Michael KhalilDepartment of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria. Electronic address: michael.khalil@medunigraz.at.
Stefano AngiariDivision of Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria; Research Unit Sex and Gender in Disease Pathophysiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. Electronic address: stefano.angiari@medunigraz.at.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is an enzyme with moonlighting activities that controls murine T cell pro-inflammatory potential in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, no study analysed in detail the expression of PKM2 in human T cell subsets, and whether targeting PKM2 may limit the inflammatory potential of T cells from patients with MS is unknown.

methodsIn this observational, case control study we evaluated the expression of PKM2 in circulating T cells of healthy control individuals (HCs) and patients with MS, as well as its isomerisation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HCs and patients. In parallel, we analysed the impact of targeting PKM2 on the inflammatory profile of T cells from HCs and individuals with MS.

findingsCirculating effector and memory T cells express higher PKM2 levels compared to naïve T cells, and PKM2 expression in such T cell subsets may correlate with age and disease duration in individuals with MS. Among effector/memory T cells, the Th17/Tc17 subsets display the highest PKM2 expression. Additionally, we observed a preferential inhibition of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-5 (IL-5), IL-13, and IL-17 production by MS T cells upon PKM2 pharmacological targeting. Finally, we found that PBMCs from patients with MS have a higher percentage of PKM2 monomer compared to PBMCs from HCs, supporting heightened PKM2 moonlighting activity.

interpretationOur data suggest that PKM2 may represent a therapeutic target to limit T cell-driven inflammation in MS and potentially other human autoimmune diseases.

fundingAustrian Multiple Sclerosis Research Society, Kulturamt der Stadt Graz, MEFOGraz and Worldwide Cancer Research.

Indexed as

Carrier ProteinsMembrane ProteinsMultiple SclerosisPyruvate KinaseT-LymphocytesT-Lymphocyte SubsetsAdultCase-Control StudiesCytokinesFemaleHumansLeukocytes, MononuclearMaleMiddle AgedPyridazinesPyrrolesCarrier ProteinsCytokinesMembrane ProteinsML-265PyridazinesPyrrolesPyruvate KinaseThyroid Hormone-Binding ProteinsImmunometabolismMultiple sclerosisPKM2T cells

Identifiers

PMID42208151
PMCPMC13235379

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.