Murine dendritic cell rapamycin-resistant and rictor-independent mTOR controls IL-10, B7-H1, and regulatory T-cell induction

Blood. 2013 May 2;121(18):3619-30. doi: 10.1182/blood-2012-08-448290. Epub 2013 Feb 26.

Abstract

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an important, yet poorly understood integrative kinase that regulates immune cell function. mTOR functions in 2 independent complexes: mTOR complex (mTORC) 1 and 2. The immunosuppressant rapamycin (RAPA) inhibits mTORC1 but not mTORC2 and causes a paradoxical reduction in anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL) 10 and B7-homolog 1 (B7-H1) expression by dendritic cells (DCs). Using catalytic mTOR inhibitors and DCs lacking mTORC2, we show that restraint of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3-mediated IL-10 and B7-H1 expression during DC maturation involves a RAPA-insensitive and mTORC2-independent mTOR mechanism. Relatedly, catalytic mTOR inhibition promotes B7-H1-dependent and IL-1β-dependent DC induction of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Thus, we define an immunoregulatory pathway in which RAPA-sensitive mTORC1 in DCs promotes effector T-cell expansion and RAPA-insensitive mTORC1 restrains T(reg) induction. These findings identify the first known RAPA-insensitive mTOR pathway that is not mediated solely by mTORC2 and have implications for the use of catalytic mTOR inhibitors in inflammatory disease settings.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B7-H1 Antigen / genetics*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics*
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / genetics*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Rapamycin-Insensitive Companion of mTOR Protein
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Rapamycin-Insensitive Companion of mTOR Protein
  • rictor protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-10
  • mTOR protein, mouse
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Sirolimus