PRAS40 suppresses atherogenesis through inhibition of mTORC1-dependent pro-inflammatory signaling in endothelial cells

Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 14;9(1):16787. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-53098-1.

Abstract

Endothelial pro-inflammatory activation plays a pivotal role in atherosclerosis, and many pro-inflammatory and atherogenic signals converge upon mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). Inhibitors of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) reduced atherosclerosis in preclinical studies, but side effects including insulin resistance and dyslipidemia limit their clinical use in this context. Therefore, we investigated PRAS40, a cell type-specific endogenous modulator of mTORC1, as alternative target. Indeed, we previously found PRAS40 gene therapy to improve metabolic profile; however, its function in endothelial cells and its role in atherosclerosis remain unknown. Here we show that PRAS40 negatively regulates endothelial mTORC1 and pro-inflammatory signaling. Knockdown of PRAS40 in endothelial cells promoted TNFα-induced mTORC1 signaling, proliferation, upregulation of inflammatory markers and monocyte recruitment. In contrast, PRAS40-overexpression blocked mTORC1 and all measures of pro-inflammatory signaling. These effects were mimicked by pharmacological mTORC1-inhibition with torin1. In an in vivo model of atherogenic remodeling, mice with induced endothelium-specific PRAS40 deficiency showed enhanced endothelial pro-inflammatory activation as well as increased neointimal hyperplasia and atherosclerotic lesion formation. These data indicate that PRAS40 suppresses atherosclerosis via inhibition of endothelial mTORC1-mediated pro-inflammatory signaling. In conjunction with its favourable effects on metabolic homeostasis, this renders PRAS40 a potential target for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics*
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Atherosclerosis / genetics
  • Atherosclerosis / immunology
  • Atherosclerosis / pathology*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Gain of Function Mutation
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Loss of Function Mutation
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism*

Substances

  • AKT1S1 protein, human
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • TNF protein, human
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1