Provided herein are methods for treating an individual for a disease (e.g., an autoimmune disease or a cancer) using an active agent which affects metabolism of α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) and/or 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) in differentiating T cells. In some embodiments, a Got1 inhibitor is used to generate a population of T cells enriched in peripheral regulatory T (iTreg) cells, which population enriched in iTreg cells may find use in treating an autoimmune disease. In some embodiments, a TCA cycle-associated metabolite, or a derivative thereof, is used to generate a population of T cells in enriched in IL-17- and IL-17F-producing CD4 T (TH17) cells, which population enriched in TH17 cells may find use in treating a cancer.