Transcriptional Regulation of NK Cell Development by mTOR Complexes

Chao Yang; Subramaniam Malarkannan

doi:10.3389/fcell.2020.566090

Transcriptional Regulation of NK Cell Development by mTOR Complexes

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020 Nov 10:8:566090. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2020.566090. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Chao Yang^{1

2}, Subramaniam Malarkannan^{1

2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Molecular Immunology and Immunotherapy, Versiti Blood Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI, United States.
² Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.
³ Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.

Abstract

The mechanistic target of Rapamycin (mTOR) is essential for multiple cellular processes. The unique roles of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) or mTOR2 in regulating immune functions are emerging. NK cells are the major lymphocyte subset of innate immunity, and their development and effector functions require metabolic reprogramming. Recent studies demonstrate that in NK cells, conditionally disrupting the formation of mTORC1 or mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2) alters their development significantly. Transcriptomic profiling of NK cells at the single-cell level demonstrates that mTORC1 was critical for the early developmental progression, while mTORC2 regulated the terminal maturation. In this review, we summarize the essential roles of mTOR complexes in NK development and functions.

Keywords: NK cell development; mTORC1; mTORC2; raptor; rictor.

Publication types

Review