Patterson Lab

About 

Our lab works at the intersection of immunometabolism and genetics, utilizing the Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM) and Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI) to define the metabolic programs controlling immune function. Because cellular metabolism dramatically shapes T cell activation, differentiation, and effector function, monogenic human conditions offer a powerful framework to pinpoint essential immunometabolic pathways. Our goal is to leverage these insights to develop targeted treatments for patients with IEI and IEM, as well as novel immunotherapies for complex immune diseases.

Key Research Areas

• Inborn Errors of Metabolism and their effect on the immune system
• Immunometabolism changes in the Inborn Errors of Immunity / immunodeficiency
• The role of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway in CD4 T cell function
• Glucose and Glycolysis in regulatory T cell function 

Current Projects

• List 

Team 

• Andrew Patterson, PI, Asst. Prof. Andrew.Patterson.1@louisville.edu
• Emily Whittle, Graduate student, emily.whittle@louisville.edu

Recent Publications

• Sugiura A, Beier KL, Chi C, Heintzman DR, Ye X, Wolf MM, Patterson AR, Cephus JY, Hong HS, Perera JM, Lyssiotis CA, Newcomb DC, Rathmell JC. Tissue and CD4 T cell subset dependence on the amino acid transporter SLC38A1. Cell Metab. 2026 Apr 7;38(4):712-728.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2026.02.016.
• Steiner KK, Young AC, Patterson AR, Sugiura A, Watson MJ, Preston SEJ, Zhelonkin A, Jennings EQ, Chi C, Heintzman DR, Pahnke AP, Toudji YT, Hatem Z, Madden MZ, Arner EN, Sewell AE, Blount AK, Okparaugo R, Fallman E, Krystofiak ES, Sheldon RD, Gibson-Corley KN, Voss K, Nowinski SM, Jones RG, Mogilenko DA, Rathmell JC. Mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis and MECR regulate CD4+ T cell function and oxidative metabolism. J Immunol. 2025 May 1;214(5):958-976. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf034.
• Zhen X, Betti MJ, Kars ME, Patterson AR, Medina-Torres EA, Scheffler Mendoza SC, Herrera Sánchez DA, Lopez-Herrera G, Svyryd Y, Mutchinick OM, Gamazon ER, Rathmell JC, Itan Y, Markle J, O'Farrill Romanillos P, Lugo-Reyes SO, Martinez-Barricarte R. Molecular and Clinical Characterization of a Founder Mutation Causing G6PC3 Deficiency. J Clin Immunol. 2024 Dec 4;45(1):53. doi: 10.1007/s10875-024-01836-0.
• Patterson AR, Needle GA, Sugiura A, Jennings EQ, Chi C, Steiner KK, Fisher EL, Robertson GL, Bodnya C, Markle JG, Sheldon RD, Jones RG, Gama V, Rathmell JC. Functional overlap of inborn errors of immunity and metabolism genes defines T cell metabolic vulnerabilities. Sci Immunol. 2024 Aug 16;9(98):eadh0368. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adh0368.
• For more publications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/andrew.patterson.2/bibliography/public/