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mTORC2 contributes to systemic autoimmunity.

Xian ZhouHaiyu QiMeilu LiYanfeng LiXingxing ZhuShreyasee AminMariam AlexanderCatherine DiadhiouAnne DavidsonHu Zeng
Published in: Immunology (2022)
The development of many systemic autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, is associated with overactivation of the type I interferon (IFN) pathway, lymphopenia and increased follicular helper T (Tfh)-cell differentiation. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these immunological perturbations remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) promotes Tfh differentiation and disrupts Treg homeostasis. Inactivation of mTORC2 in total T cells, but not in Tregs, greatly ameliorated the immunopathology in a systemic autoimmunity mouse model. This was associated with reduced Tfh differentiation, B-cell activation, and reduced T-cell glucose metabolism. Finally, we show that type I IFN can synergize with TCR ligation to activate mTORC2 in T cells, which partially contributes to T-cell lymphopenia. These data indicate that mTORC2 may act as downstream of type I IFN, TCR and costimulatory receptor ICOS, to promote glucose metabolism, Tfh differentiation, and T-cell lymphopenia, but not to suppress Treg function in systemic autoimmunity. Our results suggest that mTORC2 might be a rational target for systemic autoimmunity treatment.
Keyphrases
  • dendritic cells
  • systemic lupus erythematosus
  • regulatory t cells
  • mouse model
  • immune response
  • celiac disease
  • machine learning
  • electronic health record
  • disease activity
  • artificial intelligence