mTOR is critical for intestinal T-cell homeostasis and resistance to Citrobacter rodentium

Sci Rep. 2016 Oct 12:6:34939. doi: 10.1038/srep34939.

Abstract

T-cells play an important role in promoting mucosal immunity against pathogens, but the mechanistic basis for their homeostasis in the intestine is still poorly understood. We report here that T-cell-specific deletion of mTOR results in dramatically decreased CD4 and CD8 T-cell numbers in the lamina propria of both small and large intestines under both steady-state and inflammatory conditions. These defects result in defective host resistance against a murine enteropathogen, Citrobacter rodentium, leading to the death of the animals. We further demonstrated that mTOR deficiency reduces the generation of gut-homing effector T-cells in both mesenteric lymph nodes and Peyer's patches without obviously affecting expression of gut-homing molecules on those effector T-cells. Using mice with T-cell-specific ablation of Raptor/mTORC1 or Rictor/mTORC2, we revealed that both mTORC1 and, to a lesser extent, mTORC2 contribute to both CD4 and CD8 T-cell accumulation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Additionally, mTORC1 but not mTORC2 plays an important role regulating the proliferative renewal of both CD4 and CD8 T-cells in the intestines. Our data thus reveal that mTOR is crucial for T-cell accumulation in the GI tract and for establishing local adaptive immunity against pathogens.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Citrobacter rodentium*
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / immunology*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / metabolism
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / microbiology
  • Homeostasis
  • Inflammation
  • Intestines / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mucous Membrane
  • Peyer's Patches / immunology
  • Regulatory-Associated Protein of mTOR / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / microbiology
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Regulatory-Associated Protein of mTOR
  • Rptor protein, mouse
  • mTOR protein, mouse
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases