Rictor/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 2 Signaling Protects Colonocytes from Apoptosis and Prevents Epithelial Barrier Breakdown

Epithelial barrier impairment is a hallmark of several pathologic processes in the gut, including inflammatory bowel diseases. Several intracellular signals prevent apoptosis in intestinal epithelial cells. Herein, we shown that in colonocytes, rictor/mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) signaling is a prosurvival stimulus. Mechanistically, mTORC2 activates Akt, which, in turn, inhibits apoptosis by phosphorylating Bad and preventing caspase-3 activation. Nevertheless, during inflammation, rictor/mTORC2 signaling declines and Akt activity is reduced.

Source: American Journal of Pathology - June 14, 2021 Category: Pathology Authors: Felipe Castro-Martinez, Aurora Candelario-Martinez, Maria del Rocio Encarnacion-Garcia, Zayda Piedra-Quintero, Raul Bonilla-Moreno, Abigail Betanzos, Rocio Perez-Orozco, Maria de los Angeles Hernandez-Cueto, Jose E. Mu ñoz-Medina, Genaro Patiño-Lopez, M Tags: Regular article Source Type: research