Active Tonic mTORC1 Signals Shape Baseline Translation in Naive T Cells

Darienne R. Myers, Emilia Norlin, Yvonne Vercoulen, Jeroen P. Roose*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
26 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Naive CD4 + T cells are an example of dynamic cell homeostasis: T cells need to avoid autoreactivity while constantly seeing self-peptides, yet they must be primed to react to foreign antigens during infection. The instructive signals that balance this primed yet quiescent state are unknown. Interactions with self-peptides result in membrane-proximal, tonic signals in resting T cells. Here we reveal selective and robust tonic mTORC1 signals in CD4 + T cells that influence T cell fate decisions. We find that the Ras exchange factor Rasgrp1 is necessary to generate tonic mTORC1 signals. Genome-wide ribosome profiling of resting, primary CD4 + T cells uncovers a baseline translational landscape rich in mTOR targets linked to mitochondria, oxidative phosphorylation, and splicing. Aberrantly increased tonic mTORC1 signals from a Rasgrp1 Anaef allele result in immunopathology with spontaneous appearance of T peripheral helper cells, follicular helper T cells, and anti-nuclear antibodies that are preceded by subtle alterations in the translational landscape. Myers et al. evaluate a mouse model of autoimmunity, Rasgrp1 Anaef . They find that T cells with the Rasgrp1 Anaef allele exhibit altered signaling from Rasgrp1 to the mTORC1 pathway in the basal state. They show that increased basal Rasgrp1 Anaef -mTORC1 signals lead to an altered translational landscape in T cells and immunopathology.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1858-1874.e6
JournalCell Reports
Volume27
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 7 May 2019

Keywords

  • Anaef
  • autoimmunity
  • CD44
  • CD5
  • mRNA translation
  • mTOR
  • naive T cell
  • Rasgrp1
  • ribosome profiling
  • tonic signaling

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