Interleukin-12-induced interferon-γ production by human peripheral blood T cells is regulated by mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)

Abstract

Depending on the type of external signals, T cells can initiate multiple intracellular signaling pathways that can be broadly classified into two groups based on their sensitivity to the immunosuppFessive drug cyclosporin A (CsA). Interleukin (IL)-12-mediated interferon (IFN)-γ production by activated T cells has been shown to be CsA-insensitive. In this report, we demonstrate that the IL-12-induced CsA-resistant pathway of IFN-γ production is sensitive to rapamycin. Rapamycin treatment resulted in the aberrant recruitment of Stat3, Stat4, and phospho-c-Jun to the genomic promoter region resulting in decreased IFN-γ transcription. IL-12-induced phosphorylation of Stat3 on Ser-727 was affected by rapamycin, which may be due to the effect of rapamycin on the IL-12-induced interaction between mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Stat3. In accordance with, this, reduction in the mTOR protein level by small interfering RNA resulted in suppression of Stat3 phosphorylation and decreased production of IFN-γ after IL-12 stimulation. These results suggest that mTOR may play a major role in IL-12-induced IFN-γ production by activated T cells.