Canonical autophagy dependent on the class III phosphoinositide-3 kinase Vps34 is required for naive T-cell homeostasis

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 May 29;109(22):8670-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1205305109. Epub 2012 May 16.

Abstract

The homeostasis of naive T cells is essential for protective immunity against infection, but the cell-intrinsic molecular mechanisms that control naïve T-cell homeostasis are poorly understood. Genetic ablation in lower organisms has revealed a critical role for Vps34, an evolutionary conserved class III phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K), in regulating endocytosis and autophagy; however, the physiological function of Vps34 in the immune system, especially in T cells, is unclear. Here we report that Vps34 is required for the maintenance of naïve T cells, acting in a cell-intrinsic manner. T-cell-specific deletion of the gene encoding Vps34 resulted in reduced stability of Vps15 and Beclin-1, components of the class III PI3K complex, and impaired autophagy in T cells. Vps34 was dispensable for T-cell development but important for the survival of naïve T cells. Vps34-deficient T cells showed increased mitochondrial mass and accumulation of reactive oxygen species, consistent with deficient removal of damaged mitochondria. Thus, Vps34-dependent canonical autophagy plays a critical role in maintaining T-cell homeostasis by promoting T-cell survival through quality control of mitochondria.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism
  • Autophagy / genetics
  • Autophagy / physiology*
  • Beclin-1
  • Blotting, Western
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cell Survival / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Class III Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics
  • Class III Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Homeostasis / genetics
  • Homeostasis / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Vacuolar Sorting Protein VPS15 / metabolism

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Beclin-1
  • Becn1 protein, mouse
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Class III Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Vacuolar Sorting Protein VPS15