title: Shared signaling networks active in B cells isolated from genetically distinct mouse models of lupus.
abstract: Though B cells play key roles in lupus pathogenesis, the molecular circuitry and its dysregulation in these cells as disease evolves remain poorly understood. To address this, a comprehensive scan of multiple signaling axes using multiplexed Western blotting was undertaken in several different murine lupus strains. PI3K/AKT/mTOR (mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin), MEK1/Erk1/2, p38, NF-kappaB, multiple Bcl-2 family members, and cell-cycle molecules were observed to be hyperexpressed in lupus B cells in an age-dependent and lupus susceptibility gene-dose-dependent manner. Therapeutic targeting of the AKT/mTOR axis using a rapamycin (sirolimus) derivative ameliorated the serological, cellular, and pathological phenotypes associated with lupus. Surprisingly, the targeting of this axis was associated with the crippling of several other signaling axes. These studies reveal that lupus pathogenesis is contingent upon the activation of an elaborate network of signaling cascades that is shared among genetically distinct mouse models and raise hope that targeting pivotal nodes in these networks may offer therapeutic benefit.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-8884, USA.
authors.forename: Tianfu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiangmei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kurepa
authors.forename: Kirthi Raman
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Kui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hasna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanta
authors.forename: Xin J
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Anne B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Satterthwaite
authors.forename: Laurie S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Chandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mohan
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018628:Gene Dosage / Q000276:immunology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D048369:MAP Kinase Kinase 1; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D016328:NF-kappa B; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D011494:Protein Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D020123:Sirolimus; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases; C546843:mTOR protein, mouse; C482127:Map2k1 protein, mouse