mTOR的研究进展

mTOR(mammaliantargetofrapamycin)是丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶,在感受营养信号、调节细胞生长与增殖中起着关键性的作用。mTOR可磷酸化p70S6K和4E-BP1,促进蛋白质合成。mTOR的活性受氨基酸尤其是亮氨酸浓度的调节,生长因子及能量水平也能通过AMPK调节mTOR活性。PI3K/Akt和Akt/TSC1-TSC2两条信号通路都可调控mTOR活性,进而调节细胞的生长与增殖。mTOR信号通路的异常会导致肿瘤的发生,可以针对mTOR研制出治疗肿瘤的靶向药物。     

mTOR信号通路及其与阿尔茨海默病的关系

哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白mTOR是一个进化上十分保守的蛋白激酶,属于PIKK超家族。在细胞内mTOR存在两种功能不同的复合体mTORC1和mTORC2。mTOR主要通过接受上游信号分子Rheb、TSC1/TSC2的调控来整合细胞内外信号,其下游效应器是4E-BP和p70S6K,通过影响特定mRNA的翻译调节细胞的生长和增殖。在神经系统方面,神经元的发育、突触可塑性的调节、学习和记忆的形成都依赖于适当的mTOR通路的活化。新近的研究显示,神经退行性疾病阿尔茨海默病患者表现mTOR通路的异常,在双转基因鼠中,APP和PS1表达与mTOR/P70S6K下调关联,并影响精神状态评分。mTOR信号通路生理功能和调节机制的研究对了解AD的发病机理和寻找药物靶点具有重要意义。     

mTOR信号通路与衰老相关疾病

哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mammalian target of rapamycin,mTOR)是一种丝/苏氨酸蛋白激酶,在调节细胞的生长、增殖和存活中起着重要的作用。mTOR信号通路失调与许多衰老相关重大疾病如神经退行性病变、代谢综合征、肿瘤、心血管疾病等的发生发展密切相关,故对mTOR信号通路在衰老及衰老相关疾病中的作用机制的研究,对于揭示衰老及衰老相关疾病的发生机制具有重要意义,并为研发以mTOR信号通路为靶点的抗衰老及衰老相关疾病的治疗药物提供新策略。     

衰老相关新基因CSIG的cDNA克隆和功能

为了获得 2BS细胞衰老过程中表达下降的差异基因片段Y6 2的编码序列 ,以cDNA末端快速扩增法获得细胞衰老相关新基因CSIG(cellularsenescenceinhibitedgene ,细胞衰老抑制基因 )的cDNA全长 .CSIGcDNA长 196 1bp ,编码 4 90个氨基酸 ,在多种重要组织中都有不同程度的表达 ;蛋白产物位于细胞核内特定位点 ,可能在核仁中聚集 .细胞转染表明 :CSIG可抑制细胞衰老并延长细胞寿限 ,可能通过核糖体生物合成过程或基因转录调节来调控细胞衰老过程     

mTOR 信号通路与自噬在肿瘤中的研究进展

自噬是以细胞内自噬体形成为特征,通过溶酶体吸收降解自身受损细胞器和大分子的一种自我消化过程,是细胞维持稳态的重要机制。自噬广泛参与多种重要的细胞功能,既能在代谢应激状态下保护受损细胞,又可能因为过度激活导致细胞发生II型程序性死亡,从而引发多种疾病,尤其对肿瘤的发生和发展更是发挥着"双刃剑"的作用。自噬通过多种分子信号机制调控肿瘤进程,包括mTOR依赖性和mTOR非依赖性途径。mTOR作为生长因子、能量和营养状态的感受器,可通过调节下游自噬复合物的形成,直接调控细胞自噬。阐明mTOR与细胞自噬的相互作用机制将有助于从分子水平上对各肿瘤病变进行分析和治疗。因此,本文就自噬与PI3K/Akt/mTOR通路在肿瘤中的研究进展作一综述。     

硫化氢与自噬:一把双刃剑

硫化氢(hydrogen sulfide, H_2S)被认为是第三种气体信号分子,在许多生理及病理生理情况下发挥重要的调节作用。然而,在硫化氢对自噬的作用这一方面仍有一些争论。许多信号通路参与硫化氢的促自噬作用,例如AMPK/mTOR、LKB1/STRAD/MO25以及MiR-30c信号通路。同时,也有许多信号通路在硫化氢的抗自噬作用中发挥重要作用,例如SR-A、PI3K/SGK1/GSK3β、PI3K/AKT/mTOR、Nrf2-ROS-AMPK、AMPK/mTOR以及JNK1信号通路。在治疗人类疾病时,可以设计研发新型硫化氢相关药物,通过调节自噬增加疗效。本文主要讨论硫化氢在其介导的自噬信号通路中的作用。     

AMPK/mTOR信号通路的研究进展

mTOR是细胞生长和增殖的中枢调控因子。mTOR形成2个不同的复合物mTORC1和mTORC2。mTORC1受多种信号调节,如生长因子、氨基酸和细胞能量,同时,mTORC1调节许多重要的细胞过程,包括翻译、转录和自噬。AMPK作为一种关键的生理能量传感器,是细胞和有机体能量平衡的主要调节因子,协调多种代谢途径,平衡能量的供应和需求,最终调节细胞和器官的生长。能量代谢平衡调控是由多个与之相关的信号通路所介导,其中AMPK/mTOR信号通路在细胞内共同构成一个合成代谢和分解代谢过程的开关。此外,AMPK/mTOR信号通路还是一个自噬的重要调控途径。本文着重于目前对AMPK和mTOR信号传导之间关系的了解,讨论了AMPK/mTOR在细胞和有机体能量稳态中的作用。     

PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号传导通路与成人T淋巴细胞白血病关系的研究进展

成人T淋巴细胞白血病(ATL)是严重危害人类健康的一种疾病,它是由与H IV类似的逆转录病毒HTLV-I感染CD4+T细胞而诱发的恶性肿瘤。HTLV-Ⅰ导致ATL中起主要作用的是Tax蛋白,其反式激活作用占有重要地位,它可以激活PI3K/AKT/mTOR信号途径。PI3K/Akt/mTOR被认为是蛋白质合成的主要信号调节通路,研究表明该信号传导通路是与细胞增殖和细胞凋亡关系最密切的信号传导通路之一,其在成人T淋巴细胞白血病的发生、发展治疗及转归中发挥重要作用,并且已经成为治疗的新靶点。本文就PI3K/Akt/mTOR信号传导通路以及与ATL关系的研究进展作如下综述。     

雷帕霉素对人胰腺癌细胞SW1990的mTOR信号通路的影响

目的:研究雷帕霉素对人胰腺癌细胞SW1990的mTOR信号通路的影响。方法:采用免疫细胞化学证实mTOR信号通路的存在,通过CCK-8法研究雷帕霉素对胰腺癌细胞增殖的影响,通过Western blot和real time PCR分别从蛋白水平和基因水平研究雷帕霉素对mTOR及其下游分子的表达。结果:免疫细胞化学结果显示p-mTOR、p-p70S6K、p-4E-BP1在细胞质中均呈阳性;CCK-8法显示雷帕霉素能明显抑制细胞增殖(P<0.05);Western blot结果显示随着雷帕霉素浓度的增加,p-mTOR、p-p70S6K表达明显减少,而p-4E-BP1蛋白表达明显增加(P<0.05);Real-time PCR结果显示随雷帕霉素浓度的增加,CyclinD1、VEGF、c-myc基因表达明显减少(P<0.05)。结论:人胰腺癌细胞系SW1990中存在mTOR信号通路并处于激活状态;雷帕霉素抑制胰腺癌细胞增殖与雷帕霉素抑制mTOR信号通路活化有关。     

P13K／Akt／mTOR信号传导通路与成人T淋巴细胞白血病关系的研究进展

成人T淋巴细胞白血病（ATL）是严重危害人类健康的一种疾病,它是由与HIV类似的逆转录病毒HTLV—I感染CD4^＋T细胞而诱发的恶性肿瘤。HTLV—I导致ATL中起主要作用的是Tax蛋白,其反式激活作用占有重要地位,它可以激活P13K／AKT／mTOR信号途径。P13K／Akt／mTOR被认为是蛋白质合成的主要信号调节通路,研究表明该信号传导通路是与细胞增殖和细胞凋亡关系最密切的信号传导通路之一,其在成人T淋巴细胞白血病的发生、发展治疗及转归中发挥重要作用,并且已经成为治疗的新靶点。本文就P13K／Akt／mTOR信号传导通路以及与ATL关系的研究进展作如下综述。     

Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) and S6 Kinase Down-regulate Phospholipase D2 Basal Expression and Function

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and S6 kinase (S6K) pathway is essential for cell differentiation, growth, and survival. Phospholipase D2 (PLD2) plays a key role in mTOR/S6K mitogenic signaling. However, the impact of PLD on mTOR/S6K gene expression is not known. Here we show that interleukin-8 (IL-8) increases mRNA expression levels for PLD2, mTOR, and S6K, with PLD2 preceding mTOR/S6K in time. Silencing of PLD2 gene expression abrogated IL-8-induced mTOR/S6K mRNA expression, whereas silencing of mTOR or S6K gene expression resulted in large (>3-fold and >5-fold, respectively) increased levels of PLD2 RNA, which was paralleled by increases in protein expression and lipase activity. Treatment of cells with 0.5 nm rapamycin induced a similar trend. These results suggest that, under basal conditions, PLD2 expression and concomitant activity is negatively regulated by the mTOR/S6K signaling pathway. Down-regulation of PLD2 was confirmed in differentiated HL-60 leukocytes overexpressing an mTOR-wild type, but not an mTOR kinase-dead construct. At the cellular level, overexpression of mTOR-wild type resulted in lower basal cell migration, which was reversed by treatment with IL-8. We propose that IL-8 reverses an mTOR/S6K-led down-regulation of PLD2 expression and enables PLD2 to fully function as a facilitator for cell migration.     

Negative regulation of melanogenesis by phospholipase D1 through mTOR/p70 S6 kinase 1 signaling in mouse B16 melanoma cells

Melanogenesis is a principal parameter of differentiation in melanocytes and melanoma cells. Our recent study has demonstrated that phospholipase D1 (PLD1) regulates the melanogenic signaling through modulating the expression of tyrosinase, the rate-limiting step enzyme in the melanin biosynthesis. The current study was designed to gain more insight into the involvement of PLD1 in the regulation of melanogenesis. To investigate the role of PLD1, we examined the effect of knockdown of endogenous PLD1 by small interference RNA (siRNA) on melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells. It was shown that the melanin synthesis was induced in PLD1-knockdowned cells, and also that the level of melanin synthesis was well correlated with increases in expression level of tyrosinase and its related proteins (Tyrp1 and Dct). Furthermore, the reduction of expression levels of PLD1 by siRNA transfection was accompanied by diminution of ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) phosphorylation. The activity of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is essential for phosphorylation of S6K1 and the treatment malanoma cells with rapamycin, a potent inhibitor of mTOR effectively induced melanogenesis. The results obtained here provide possible evidence that PLD1 exerts a negative regulatory role in the melanogenic process through mTOR/S6K1 signaling.     

Modulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin pathway by diacylglycerol kinase-produced phosphatidic acid

The protein known as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates cell growth by integrating different stimuli, such as available nutrients and mitogenic factors. The lipid messenger phosphatidic acid (PA) binds and positively regulates the mitogenic response of mTOR. PA generator enzymes are consequently potential regulators of mTOR. Here we explored the contribution to this pathway of the enzyme diacylglycerol kinase (DGK), which produces PA through phosphorylation of diacylglycerol. We found that overexpression of the DGKzeta, but not of the alpha isoform, in serum-deprived HEK293 cells induced mTOR-dependent phosphorylation of p70S6 kinase (p70S6K). After serum addition, p70S6K phosphorylation was higher and more resistant to rapamycin treatment in cells overexpressing DGKzeta. The effect of this DGK isoform on p70S6K hyperphosphorylation required the mTOR PA binding region. Down-regulation of endogenous DGKzeta by small interfering RNA in HEK293 cells diminished serum-induced p70S6K phosphorylation, highlighting the role of this isoform in the mTOR pathway. Our results confirm a role for PA in mTOR regulation and describe a novel pathway in which DGKzeta-derived PA acts as a mediator of mTOR signaling.     

Skeletal myocyte hypertrophy requires mTOR kinase activity and S6K1

The protein kinase mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a central regulator of cell proliferation and growth, with the ribosomal subunit S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) as one of the key downstream signaling effectors. A critical role of mTOR signaling in skeletal muscle differentiation has been identified recently, and an unusual regulatory mechanism independent of mTOR kinase activity and S6K1 is revealed. An mTOR pathway has also been reported to regulate skeletal muscle hypertrophy, but the regulatory mechanism is not completely understood. Here, we report the investigation of mTOR's function in insulin growth factor I (IGF-I)-induced C2C12 myotube hypertrophy. Added at a later stage when rapamycin no longer had any effect on normal myocyte differentiation, rapamycin completely blocked myocyte hypertrophy as measured by myotube diameter. Importantly, a concerted increase of average myonuclei per myotube was observed in IGF-I-stimulated myotubes, which was also inhibited by rapamycin added at a time when it no longer affected normal differentiation. The mTOR protein level, its catalytic activity, its phosphorylation on Ser2448, and the activity of S6K1 were all found increased in IGF-I-stimulated myotubes compared to unstimulated myotubes. Using C2C12 cells stably expressing rapamycin-resistant forms of mTOR and S6K1, we provide genetic evidence for the requirement of mTOR and its downstream effector S6K1 in the regulation of myotube hypertrophy. Our results suggest distinct mTOR signaling mechanisms in different stages of skeletal muscle development: While mTOR regulates the initial myoblast differentiation in a kinase-independent and S6K1-independent manner, the hypertrophic function of mTOR requires its kinase activity and employs S6K1 as a downstream effector.     

M-CSF, TNFalpha and RANK ligand promote osteoclast survival by signaling through mTOR/S6 kinase

Multinucleated bone-resorbing osteoclasts (Ocl) are cells of hematopoietic origin that play a major role in osteoporosis pathophysiology. Ocl survival and activity require M-CSF and RANK ligand (RANKL). M-CSF signals to Akt, while RANKL, like TNFalpha, activates NF-kappaB. We show here that although these are separate pathways in the Ocl, signaling of all three cytokines converges on mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) as part of their antiapoptotic action. Accordingly, rapamycin blocks M-CSF- and RANKL-dependent Ocl survival inducing apoptosis, and suppresses in vitro bone resorption proportional to the reduction in Ocl number. The cytokine signaling intermediates for mTOR/ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K) activation include phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, Akt, Erks and geranylgeranylated proteins. Inhibitors of these intermediates suppress cytokine activation of S6K and induce Ocl apoptosis. mTOR regulates protein translation acting via S6K, 4E-BP1 and S6. We find that inhibition of translation by other mechanisms also induces Ocl apoptosis, demonstrating that Ocl survival is highly sensitive to continuous de novo protein synthesis. This study thus identifies mTOR/S6K as an essential signaling pathway engaged in the stimulation of cell survival in osteoclasts.     

Rapamycin inhibits fibronectin-induced migration of the human arterial smooth muscle line (E47) through the mammalian target of rapamycin

The matrix protein fibronectin (FN) is a potent agoinst of vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration. The role of rapamycin and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in matrix protein-induced migration has not yet been defined. In these studies, we found that rapamycin (10 nM) markedly diminished chemotaxis of E47 cells (a cell line derived from human atherosclerotic plaques) and rat aortic SMCs toward FN as well as type I collagen and laminin; however, a period of preincubation >20 h was required. Subsequently, we showed that treatment with FN induced a rapid activation of mTOR as well as its downstream effector, S6 kinase (S6K). Moreover, FN-induced activation of both proteins was inhibited by preincubation with rapamycin for only 30 min. We then explored the upstream signaling pathway through which FN might mediate mTOR activation. A blocking antibody to alpha(v)beta(3) inhibited FN-induced mTOR/S6K activation as well as E47 cell chemotaxis, implicating alpha(v)beta(3) as the integrin receptor responsible for initiating FN-induced migration. Moreover, preincubation of E47 cells with wortmannin or LY-294002 blocked FN-induced mTOR/S6K activation, demonstrating that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) plays a critical role in this rapamycin-sensitive signaling pathway. It has been previously suggested that rapamycin's effect on migration maybe related to enhancement of p27(kip1). However, treatment of E47 cells with rapamycin did not alter the level of p27(kip1) in the presence or absence of FN. Taken together, our data demonstrate that rapamycin inhibits FN-induced SMC migration through a pathway that involves at least alpha(v)beta(3)-integrin, PI3K, mTOR, and S6K.     

PLD1 regulates mTOR signaling and mediates Cdc42 activation of S6K1

BACKGROUND: The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates cell growth and proliferation via the downstream targets ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1). We have identified phosphatidic acid (PA) as a mediator of mitogenic activation of mTOR signaling. In this study, we set out to test the hypotheses that phospholipase D 1 (PLD1) is an upstream regulator of mTOR and that the previously reported S6K1 activation by Cdc42 is mediated by PLD1. RESULTS: Overexpression of wild-type PLD1 increased S6K1 activity in serum-stimulated cells, whereas a catalytically inactive PLD1 exerted a dominant-negative effect on S6K1. More importantly, eliminating endogenous PLD1 by RNAi led to drastic inhibition of serum-stimulated S6K1 activation and 4E-BP1 hyperphosphorylation in both HEK293 and COS-7 cells. Knockdown of PLD1 also resulted in reduced cell size, suggesting a critical role for PLD1 in cell growth control. Using a rapamycin-resistant S6K1 mutant, Cdc42's action was demonstrated to be through the mTOR pathway. When Cdc42 was mutated in a region specifically required for PLD1 activation, its ability to activate S6K1 in the presence of serum was hindered. However, when exogenous PA was used as a stimulus, the PLD1-inactive Cdc42 mutant behaved similarly to the wild-type protein. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations reveal the involvement of PLD1 in mTOR signaling and cell size control, and provide a molecular mechanism for Cdc42 activation of S6K1. A new cascade is proposed to connect mitogenic signals to mTOR through Cdc42, PLD1, and PA.     

Prolonged activation of S6K1 does not suppress IRS or PI-3 kinase signaling during muscle cell differentiation

Background  

Myogenesis in C2C12 cells requires the activation of the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathways. Since mTOR signaling can feedback through S6K1 to inhibit the activation of PI3K, the aim of this work was to assess whether feedback from S6K1 played a role in myogenesis and determine whether siRNA mediated knockdown of S6K1 would lead to an increased rate of myotube formation.     

Follistatin-mediated skeletal muscle hypertrophy is regulated by Smad3 and mTOR independently of myostatin

Follistatin is essential for skeletal muscle development and growth, but the intracellular signaling networks that regulate follistatin-mediated effects are not well defined. We show here that the administration of an adeno-associated viral vector expressing follistatin-288aa (rAAV6:Fst-288) markedly increased muscle mass and force-producing capacity concomitant with increased protein synthesis and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation. These effects were attenuated by inhibition of mTOR or deletion of S6K1/2. Furthermore, we identify Smad3 as the critical intracellular link that mediates the effects of follistatin on mTOR signaling. Expression of constitutively active Smad3 not only markedly prevented skeletal muscle growth induced by follistatin but also potently suppressed follistatin-induced Akt/mTOR/S6K signaling. Importantly, the regulation of Smad3- and mTOR-dependent events by follistatin occurred independently of overexpression or knockout of myostatin, a key repressor of muscle development that can regulate Smad3 and mTOR signaling and that is itself inhibited by follistatin. These findings identify a critical role of Smad3/Akt/mTOR/S6K/S6RP signaling in follistatin-mediated muscle growth that operates independently of myostatin-driven mechanisms.