mTOR inhibitor INK128 attenuates dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis by promotion of MDSCs on Treg cell expansion

Accumulating evidence has shown that mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are involved in pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). INK128 is a novel mTOR kinase inhibitor in clinical development. However, the exact roles of MDSCs and INK128 in IBD are unclear. Here, we showed that the INK128 treatment enhanced the resistance of mice to dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)–induced colitis and inhibited the differentiation of MDSCs into macrophages. Moreover, interferon (IFN)-α level was elevated in INK128-treated colitis mice. When stimulated with IFN-α in vitro, MDSCs showed a superior immunosuppression activity. Of note, the regulatory T cells (Tregs) increased but Th1 cells decreased in INK128-treated colitis mice. These results indicate that mTOR inhibitor INK128 attenuates DSS-induced colitis via Treg expansion promoted by MDSCs. Our work provides a new evidence that INK128 is potential to be a therapeutic drug on DSS-induced colitis via regulating MDSCs as well as maintaining Treg expansion.