Abstract
BACKGROUND: Inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) elicits pro-inflammatory signaling responses in endothelial cells through interaction with two receptors, RAGE and P2Y1 . It is known that polyP activates mTOR signaling in breast cancer cells. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to understand the mechanism of the polyP-mediated signaling pathway in endothelial cells and to determine whether polyP exerts its pro-inflammatory effect through activation of mTOR. METHODS: mTOR activation by polyP or platelet releasates in cellular and animal models was monitored in the absence and presence of pharmacological inhibitors and/or siRNA knockdown of specific signaling molecules. RESULTS: PolyP effectively induced phosphorylation of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) substrate, p70S6K, in endothelial cells by an AKT-dependent but ERK-independent mechanism. The siRNA knockdown of both RAGE and P2Y1 or specific inhibitors of the PI3K/PLC/PKC/Ca(2+) signaling axis inhibited polyP-mediated p70S6K phosphorylation. Moreover, either rapamycin or siRNA knockdown of raptor (mTORC1-specific component) abrogated polyP-mediated phosphorylation of p70S6K. By contrast, the siRNA knockdown of rictor (mTOR complex 2-specific component) but not raptor eliminated the barrier-disruptive effect of polyP. Specific NF-κB inhibitors abrogated polyP-mediated phosphorylation of p70S6K and rapamycin suppressed polyP-induced activation of NF-κB. Finally, specific inhibitors of the mTOR signaling network eliminated polyP-mediated vascular leakage and leukocyte recruitment in animal models. CONCLUSIONS: PolyP, through interaction with RAGE and P2Y1 , activates both the mTORC1 and mTORC2 signaling network. Both the pro-inflammatory and mTOR signaling functions of polyP are linked.