PI3K-C2β limits mTORC1 signaling and angiogenic growth

Sci Signal. 2023 Nov 28;16(813):eadg1913. doi: 10.1126/scisignal.adg1913. Epub 2023 Nov 28.

Abstract

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) phosphorylate intracellular inositol lipids to regulate signaling and intracellular vesicular trafficking. Mammals have eight PI3K isoforms, of which class I PI3Kα and class II PI3K-C2α are essential for vascular development. The class II PI3K-C2β is also abundant in endothelial cells. Using in vivo and in vitro approaches, we found that PI3K-C2β was a critical regulator of blood vessel growth by restricting endothelial mTORC1 signaling. Mice expressing a kinase-inactive form of PI3K-C2β displayed enlarged blood vessels without corresponding changes in endothelial cell proliferation or migration. Instead, inactivation of PI3K-C2β resulted in an increase in the size of endothelial cells, particularly in the sprouting zone of angiogenesis. Mechanistically, we showed that the aberrantly large size of PI3K-C2β mutant endothelial cells was caused by mTORC1 activation, which sustained growth in these cells. Consistently, pharmacological inhibition of mTORC1 with rapamycin normalized vascular morphogenesis in PI3K-C2β mutant mice. Together, these results identify PI3K-C2β as a crucial determinant of endothelial signaling and illustrate the importance of mTORC1 regulation during angiogenic growth.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Endothelial Cells* / metabolism
  • Mammals / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases* / genetics
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases* / metabolism
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Pik3c2b protein, mouse