Inhibition of Growth of TSC2-Null Cells by a PI3K/mTOR Inhibitor but Not by a Selective MNK1/2 Inhibitor

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare metastatic cystic lung disease due to a mutation in a TSC tumor suppressor, resulting in hyperactive mTOR growth pathways. Sirolimus (rapamycin), an allosteric mTORC1 inhibitor, is a therapeutic option for women with LAM but it only maintains lung volume during treatment and does not provide benefit for all LAM patients. The two major mTORC1 protein synthesis pathways are via S6K/S6 or 4E-BP/eIF4E activation. We aimed to investigate rapamycin in combination with compounds that target associated growth pathways, with the potential to be additive to rapamycin. In this study we demonstrated that rapamycin, at a clinically tolerable concentration (10 nM), inhibited the phosphorylation of S6, but not the critical eIF4E releasing Thr 37/46 phosphorylation sites of 4E-BP1 in TSC2-deficient LAM-derived cells. We also characterized the abundant protein expression of peIF4E within LAM lesions. A selective MNK1/2 inhibitor eFT508 inhibited the phosphorylation of eIF4E but did not reduce TSC2-null cell growth. In contrast, a PI3K/mTOR inhibitor omipalisib blocked the phosphorylation of Akt and both S6K/S6 and 4E-BP/eIF4E branches, and additively decreased the growth of TSC2-null cells with rapamycin. Omipalisib, or another inhibitor of both major mTORC1 growth pathways and pAkt, might provide therapeutic options for TSC2-deficient cancers including, but not limited to, LAM

Fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles for modulating the level of intracellular Ca2+ in motoneurons

This report introduces both synthesis and in vitro biological behaviour of dual magnetic-fluorescent silica nanoparticles. The amino group-decoration of 78 nm sized silica nanoparticles enables their efficient internalization into motoneurons, which is visualized by the red fluorescence arising from [Ru(dipy)(3)](2+) complexes encapsulated into a silica matrix. The internalized nanoparticles are predominantly located in the cell cytoplasm as revealed by confocal microscopy imaging. The magnetic function of the nanoparticles resulted from the incorporation of 17 nm sized superparamagnetic iron oxide cores into the silica matrix, enabling their responsivity to magnetic fields. Fluorescence analysis revealed the "on-off" switching of Ca2+ influx under the application and further removal of the permanent magnetic field. This result for the first time highlights the movement of the nanoparticles within the cell cytoplasm in the permanent magnetic field as a promising tool to enhance the neuronal activity of motoneurons.Web of Science1134161131610