Submit a Letter to the Editor

Tuning mTOR activity for immune balance
Kai Yang, Hongbo Chi
Kai Yang, Hongbo Chi
Published November 25, 2013
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2013;123(12):5001-5004. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI73202.
View: Text | PDF
Commentary

Tuning mTOR activity for immune balance

Abstract

The mTOR pathway orchestrates diverse physiological processes, including T cell functions and fate decisions; however, the regulation of mTOR-dependent T cell differentiation remains elusive. In this issue, Park et al. examine the role of TSC1, an mTOR signaling regulator, in T cell differentiation and the balance between T cell–mediated immunity and tolerance. They found that enhanced mTOR activity in Tsc1-deficient T cells promotes Th1 and Th17 differentiation, leading to increased intestinal inflammation in murine colitis. Tsc1-deficient Tregs had impaired suppressive activity in inflammatory conditions. These defects were associated with the acquisition of effector-like phenotypes and could be further exacerbated by concomitant loss of transcription factor Foxo3. This study highlights that TSC1-mediated control of mTOR activity impinges on the balance between immunity and tolerance by dictating effector and regulatory T cell responses.

Authors

Kai Yang, Hongbo Chi

×

Guidelines: The Editorial Board will only consider letters that we deem relevant and of interest to our readers. We will not post data that have not been subjected to peer review, nor will we post letters that are essentially a reiteration of another letter. We reserve the right to edit any letter for length, content, and clarity. Authors will be notified by e-mail if their letters were accepted. No appeals will be considered.

Specific requirements: All letters must be 400 words or fewer. You may enter the letter as plain text or HTML. The author's name and e-mail address are required, and will be posted with the letter. All possible conflicts of interest must be noted, even if they are not posted. If you wish to include a figure (keep in mind that non-peer-reviewed data will not be posted), please contact the editors directly at editors@the-jci.org.

This field is required
This field is required
This field is required
This field is required
This field is required

This field is required