T-cell-specific mTOR deletion in mice ameliorated CD4+ T-cell survival in lethal sepsis induced by severe invasive candidiasis.
Hao WangGuangxu BaiNa CuiWen HanYun LongPublished in: Virulence (2020)
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway can mediate T-cell survival; however, the role of this pathway in T-cell survival during fungal sepsis is unclear. Here, we investigated the role of the mTOR pathway in CD4+ T-cell survival in a mouse model of rapidly progressive lethal sepsis induced by severe invasive candidiasis and explored the possible mechanism. The decrease in CD4+ T-cell survival following fungal sepsis was ameliorated in mice with a T-cell-specific mTOR deletion, whereas it was exacerbated in mice with a T-cell-specific tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)1 deletion. To explore the mechanism further, we measured expression of autophagy proteins light chain 3B and p62/sequestosome 1 in CD4+ T cells. Both proteins were increased in T-cell-specific mTOR knockout mice but lower in T-cell-specific TSC1 knockout mice. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that T-cell-specific mTOR knockout mice had more autophagosomes than wild-type mice following fungal sepsis. CD4+ T-cell mTOR knockout decreased CD4+ T-cell apoptosis in fungal sepsis. Most notably, the T-cell-specific mTOR deletion mice had an increased survival rate after fungal sepsis. These results suggest that the mTOR pathway plays a vital role in CD4+ T-cell survival during fungal sepsis, partly through the autophagy-apoptosis pathway.
Keyphrases
- cell proliferation
- septic shock
- acute kidney injury
- intensive care unit
- wild type
- high fat diet induced
- cell death
- oxidative stress
- mouse model
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- metabolic syndrome
- multiple sclerosis
- early onset
- signaling pathway
- single cell
- candida albicans
- nk cells
- adipose tissue
- skeletal muscle
- atomic force microscopy
- cell cycle arrest
- high speed