Chronic signaling via the metabolic checkpoint kinase mTORC1 induces macrophage granuloma formation and marks sarcoidosis progression

M Linke, HTT Pham, K Katholnig, T Schnöller… - Nature …, 2017 - nature.com
M Linke, HTT Pham, K Katholnig, T Schnöller, A Miller, F Demel, B Schütz, M Rosner…
Nature immunology, 2017nature.com
The aggregation of hypertrophic macrophages constitutes the basis of all granulomatous
diseases, such as tuberculosis or sarcoidosis, and is decisive for disease pathogenesis.
However, macrophage-intrinsic pathways driving granuloma initiation and maintenance
remain elusive. We found that activation of the metabolic checkpoint kinase mTORC1 in
macrophages by deletion of the gene encoding tuberous sclerosis 2 (Tsc2) was sufficient to
induce hypertrophy and proliferation, resulting in excessive granuloma formation in vivo …
Abstract
The aggregation of hypertrophic macrophages constitutes the basis of all granulomatous diseases, such as tuberculosis or sarcoidosis, and is decisive for disease pathogenesis. However, macrophage-intrinsic pathways driving granuloma initiation and maintenance remain elusive. We found that activation of the metabolic checkpoint kinase mTORC1 in macrophages by deletion of the gene encoding tuberous sclerosis 2 (Tsc2) was sufficient to induce hypertrophy and proliferation, resulting in excessive granuloma formation in vivo. TSC2-deficient macrophages formed mTORC1-dependent granulomatous structures in vitro and showed constitutive proliferation that was mediated by the neo-expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4). Moreover, mTORC1 promoted metabolic reprogramming via CDK4 toward increased glycolysis while simultaneously inhibiting NF-κB signaling and apoptosis. Inhibition of mTORC1 induced apoptosis and completely resolved granulomas in myeloid TSC2-deficient mice. In human sarcoidosis patients, mTORC1 activation, macrophage proliferation and glycolysis were identified as hallmarks that correlated with clinical disease progression. Collectively, TSC2 maintains macrophage quiescence and prevents mTORC1-dependent granulomatous disease with clinical implications for sarcoidosis.
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