Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which is now referred to as mechanistic target of rapamycin, integrates many signals, including those from growth factors, energy status, stress, and amino acids, to regulate cell growth and proliferation, protein synthesis, protein degradation, and other physiological and biochemical processes. The mTOR-Rheb-TSC-TBC complex co-localizes to the lysosome and the phosphorylation of TSC-TBC effects the dissociation of the complex from the lysosome and activates Rheb. GTP-bound Rheb potentiates the catalytic activity of mTORC1. Under conditions with growth factors and amino acids, v-ATPase, Ragulator, Rag GTPase, Rheb, hVps34, PLD1, and PA have important but disparate effects on mTORC1 activation. In this review, we introduce five models of mTORC1 activation by growth factors and amino acids to provide a comprehensive theoretical foundation for future research.
Background Pyroptosis is a recently identified pathway of caspase-mediated cell death in response to microbes, lipopolysaccharide, or chemotherapy in certain types of cells. However, the mechanism of how pyroptosis is regulated is not well-established. Methods Herein, the intracellular bacteria were detected by staining and laser confocal microscopy and TEM. Live/dead cell imaging assay was used to examine macrophage death. Western blot and immunohistochemical staining were used to examine the protein changes. IFA was used to identify typical budding vesicles of pyroptosis and the STAT3 nuclear localization. SEM was used to observe the morphological characteristics of pyroptosis. ELISA was used to detect the level of inflammatory cytokines. Pyroptosis was filmed in macrophages by LSCM. Results S. aureus was internalized by human macrophages. Intracellular S. aureus induced macrophage death. S. aureus invasion increased the expression of NLRP3, Caspase1 (Casp-1 p20) and the accumulation of GSDMD-NT, GSDMD-NT pore structures, and the release of IL-1β and IL-18 in macrophages. Macrophages pyroptosis induced by S. aureus can be abrogated by blockage of S. aureus phagocytosis. The pyroptosic effect by S. aureus infection was promoted by either rapamycin or Stattic, a specific inhibitor for mTORC1 or STAT3. Inhibition of mTORC1 or STAT3 induced pyroptosis. mTORC1 regulated the pyroptosic gene expression through governing the nuclear localization of STAT3. mTORC1/STAT3 axis may play a regulatory role in pyroptosis within macrophages. Conclusions S. aureus infection induces human macrophage pyroptosis, inhibition of mTORC1/STAT3 axis facilitates S. aureus-induced pyroptosis. mTORC1 and STAT3 are associated with pyroptosis. Our findings demonstrate a regulatory function of the mTORC1/STAT3 axis in macrophage pyroptosis, constituting a novel mechanism by which pyroptosis is regulated in macrophages.
4EBP1 is a chief downstream factor of mTORC1, and PPARγ is a key lipogenesis-related transcription factor. mTORC1 and PPARγ are associated with lipid metabolism. However, it is unknown which effector protein connects mTORC1 and PPARγ. This study investigated the interaction between 4EBP1 with PPARγ as part of the underlying mechanism by which insulin-induced lipid synthesis and secretion are regulated by mTORC1 in primary bovine mammary epithelial cells (pBMECs). Rapamycin, a specific inhibitor of mTORC1, downregulated 4EBP1 phosphorylation and the expression of PPARγ and the following lipogenic genes: lipin 1, DGAT1, ACC, and FAS. Rapamycin also decreased the levels of intracellular triacylglycerol (TAG); 10 types of fatty acid; and the accumulation of TAG, palmitic acid (PA), and stearic acid (SA) in the cell culture medium. Inactivation of mTORC1 by shRaptor or shRheb attenuated the synthesis and secretion of TAG and PA. In contrast, activation of mTORC1 by Rheb overexpression promoted 4EBP1 phosphorylation and PPARγ expression and upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of lipin 1, DGAT1, ACC, and FAS, whereas the levels of intracellular and extracellular TAG, PA, and SA also rose. Further, 4EBP1 interacted directly with PPARγ. Inactivation of mTORC1 by shRaptor prevented the nuclear location of PPARγ. These results demonstrate that mTORC1 regulates lipid synthesis and secretion by inducing the expression of lipin 1, DGAT1, ACC, and FAS, which is likely mediated by the 4EBP1/PPARγ axis. This finding constitutes a novel mechanism by which lipid synthesis and secretion are regulated in pBMECs.
The mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) primarily functions as an effector of insulin/PI3K signaling to regulate cell proliferation and is associated with cell metabolism. However, the function of mTORC2 in lipid metabolism is not well understood. In the present study, mTORC2 was inactivated by the ATP-competitive mTOR inhibitor AZD8055 or shRNA targeting RICTOR in primary bovine mammary epithelial cells (pBMECs). MTT assay was performed to examine the effect of AZD8055 on cell proliferation. ELISA assay and GC-MS analysis were used to determine the content of lipid. The mRNA and protein expression levels were investigated by RT/real-time PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. We found that cell proliferation, mTORC2 activation, and lipid secretion were inhibited by AZD8055. RICTOR was knocked down and mTORC2 activation was specifically attenuated by the shRNA. Compared to control cells, the expression of the transcription factor gene PPARG and the lipogenic genes LPIN1, DGAT1, ACACA, and FASN was downregulated in RICTOR silencing cells. As a result, the content of intracellular triacylglycerol (TAG), palmitic acid (PA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and other 16 types of fatty acid was decreased in the treated cells; the accumulation of TAG, PA, and DHA in cell culture medium was also reduced. Overall, mTORC2 plays a critical role in regulating lipogenic gene expression, lipid synthesis, and secretion in pBMECs, and this process probably is through PPARγ. This finding provides a model by which lipogenesis is regulated in pBMECs.
ABSTRACT. Fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) is a secreted signaling protein that belongs to the FGF family, and was found to be associated with hair growth in humans and other animals. The Inner Mongolia Cashmere goat (Capra hircus) is a goat breed that provides superior cashmere; this breed was formed by spontaneous mutation in China. Here, we report the cloning, molecular characterization, and expression pattern of the Cashmere goat FGF5. The cloned FGF5 cDNA was 813 base pairs (KM596772), including an open reading frame encoding a 270-amino-acid polypeptide. The nucleotide sequence shared 99% homology with Ovis aries FGF5 (NM_001246263.1). Bioinformatic analysis revealed that FGF5 contained a signal peptide, an FGF domain, and a heparin-binding growth factor/FGF family signature. There was 1 cAMP-and cGMP-dependent protein kinase phosphorylation site, 11 protein kinase C phosphorylation sites, 4 casein kinase II phosphorylation sites, 1 amidation site, 1 N-glycosylation site, and 1 tyrosine kinase phosphorylation site in FGF5. Real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that FGF5 mRNA levels were higher in testis than in the pancreas and liver. These data suggest that FGF5 may play a crucial role in Cashmere goat hair growth.
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