LY294002 and rapamycin co-operate to inhibit T-cell proliferation

Br J Pharmacol. 2005 Mar;144(6):791-800. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706061.

Abstract

1. T-cell proliferation is critical for mounting an effective adaptive immune response. It is regulated by signals through the T-cell receptor, through co-stimulation and through cytokines such as interleukin-2 (IL-2). Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) lies downstream of each of these pathways and has been directly implicated in the regulation of lymphocyte proliferation. 2. In this study, we have shown that PI3K regulates cyclin D2 and cyclin D3, the first cell cycle proteins induced in T-cell proliferation, transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally. In T-lymphoblasts, LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, prevents the induction of both D-type cyclin mRNA and protein, while rapamycin inhibits the induction of protein. Rapamycin inhibits mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which lies downstream of PI3K. 3. Furthermore, our data show that the combination of LY294002 and rapamycin results in a co-operative inhibition of T-cell proliferation. This co-operation occurs in Kit225 cells stimulated with IL-2, and also in resting peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with antibodies to the T-cell receptor in the presence and absence of antibodies to CD28. 4. These data indicate that PI3K regulates T-cell proliferation in response to diverse stimuli, and suggest that combinations of inhibitors, perhaps isoform-selective, may be useful as alternative immunosuppressive therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chromones / pharmacology*
  • Drug Interactions
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 / pharmacology
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Morpholines / pharmacology*
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Sirolimus / pharmacology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / physiology
  • Thymidine / metabolism

Substances

  • Chromones
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Interleukin-2
  • Morpholines
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • 2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
  • Thymidine
  • Sirolimus