PI3K/AKT/mTOR hypersignaling in autoimmune lymphoproliferative disease engendered by the epistatic interplay of Sle1b and FASlpr

Chun Xie, Rahul Patel, Tianfu Wu, Jiankun Zhu, Tamika Henry, Madhavi Bhaskarabhatla, Renuka Samudrala, Katalin Tus, Yimei Gong, Hui Zhou, Edward K. Wakeland, Xin J. Zhou, Chandra Mohan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that the NZM2410/NZW 'z' allele of Sle1 on telomeric murine chromosome 1 led to lymphoproliferative autoimmunity, when acting in concert with the FASlpr defect on the C57BL/6 background. The present report shows that the Sle1b sub-locus, harboring the NZM2410/NZW 'z' allele of SLAM, in epistasis with FASlpr, may be sufficient to induce lymphoproliferative autoimmunity. Disease in this simplified genetic model is accompanied by significant activation of the AKT signaling axis in both B- and T cells, as evidenced by increased phosphorylation of AKT, mTOR, 4EBP-1 and p70S6K, resulting from increased PI3K and reduced PTEN activity. In addition, blocking this axis using RAD001, an mTOR inhibitor, ameliorated lymphoproliferation and modulated serum IgG anti-nuclear auto-antibodies. Finally, mTOR inhibition also dampened signaling via parallel axes, including the MAPK and NFkB pathways. Hence, hypersignaling via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis appears to be an important mechanism underlying autoimmune lymphoproliferative disease, presenting itself as a potential target for therapeutic intervention.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)509-522
Number of pages14
JournalInternational Immunology
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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