Material and energy homeostasis is essential for maintaining cell survival and regular functions, and the loss of material and energy homeostasis may result in a variety of diseases. Recently, the relationship between cellular metabolism and function has become a hotspot in the study of various metabolic diseases, cancer and autoimmune diseases. This review focuses on the roles and regulatory mechanisms of T lymphocytes energy metabolism in its activation, differentiation and physiological function. It also discusses the significance of type M2 pyruvate kinase, which is the key enzyme in glycolysis, for the treatment of atherosclerosis.