A central role for mTOR in Determining T Cell Activation versus Tolerance

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The outcome of TCR recognition is dictated by the context in which the antigen is recognized. While TCR engagement (Signal 1) heralds recognition, whether this recognition will lead to an immunogenic response is dictated by the presence of costimulatory molecules (Signal 2) on the APC. Furthermore, cytokines such as IL-12, IFN-¿, IL-4, IL-6 and TGF-¿ in the inflammatory milieu play critical roles in skewing T cell differentiation. Based on these environmental cues T cells may differentiate into effector subsets characterized by TH1, TH2 and TH17 cells or regulatory cells characterized by Foxp3 expression, LAG-3 expression and IL-10 secretion. We propose that the highly evolutionarily conserved threonine/serine protein kinase the mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) plays a critical role in integrating these cues and dictating the outcome of antigen recognition. In an effort to understand the mechanisms and pathways by which mTOR regulates T cell function we generated conditional mTOR knockout mice in T cells. mTOR deficient T cells develop normally and produce normal levels of IL-2 upon initial stimulation. However, TCR engagement in the absence of mTOR renders such cells anergic, as revealed by a failure to produce IL-2 and IFN-¿. Furthermore, mTOR deficient T cells fail to differentiate into TH1,TH2 or TH17 effector cells. Instead, under normally activating conditions, both in vitro and in vivo these cells develop into regulatory T cells. In this proposal we will employ mTOR null, Rheb null, Rictor null and TSC2 null T cells to determine the role of TORC1 and TORC2 in regulating T cell activation and adaptive effector versus regulatory lineage commitment. Using in vivo models of tumor immunity, viral infection, allergen, EAE and bone marrow transplantation we will further determine the role of mTOR and its downstream signaling in regulating immune responses. Our approach will have important implications with regard to the rationale design of immunosuppressive agents for the treatment of autoimmune disorders and organ transplantation as well as devising strategies to enhance anti-tumor immunity.