Figure 2: TCR/CD28-mTORC1 signal axis induces PPARγ and SREBP1 activation.

(a) Intracellular staining profiles of p-S6 protein and Bodipy FLC16 in stimulated CD4⁺ T cells for 24 h. (b) qRT-PCR analyses of the relative expression of the genes encoding the enzymes in fatty acid biosynthesis programme in stimulated CD4⁺ T cells in the presence of rapamycin. The heat map represents the log2 value of the relative mRNA expression level (see colour scale). The log2 value of each gene in control cells was set to 0. (c) qRT-PCR analyses of the relative expression of the genes encoding the enzymes and transporter in fatty acid uptake and lipolysis programmes in stimulated CD4⁺ T cells in the presence of rapamycin as in b. (d) Representative plots of Bodipy FLC16 in CD4⁺ T cells collected at the indicated times after TCR stimulation in the presence of rapamycin are shown. (e) Forward and side scatter of live cells 48 h after TCR stimulation in the presence or absence of rapamycin. (f) Representative profiles of e670 and Bodipy FLC16 in stimulated CD4⁺ T cells in the presence of rapamycin 48 h after TCR stimulation are shown. (g) qRT-PCR analyses of the relative expression of Srebf1, Srebf2 and Pparg in naive CD4⁺ T cells and activated CD4⁺ T cells in the presence or absence of rapamycin are shown. (**P<0.01, Mann–Whitney U test). (h) Protein levels of SREBP1, SREBP2 and PPARγ in naive CD4 T cells and stimulated cells in the presence or absence of rapamycin. Three technical replicates were performed for qRT-PCR (b,c,g). The mean values with s.d. are shown. **P<0.01 more than three independent experiments were performed with similar results (a–h).