mTOR

Level of phospho-proteins in RTK and PI3K–Akt–mTOR pathways in treated tumours, detected with western blot.

Protein blots showing MYC expression in naive and persister cells after 3 d of treatment with 2 uM AKT inhibitor MK-2206 (AKTi) or 10 nM mTOR inhibitor rapamycin (Rapa).

Effects on PI3K signaling. Tumor cells were treated with DMSO, BEZ-235 (5uM, 1uM), BKM-120 (5uM, 1uM), RAD-001(5uM, 1uM) or cyclopamine (2.5uM, 1uM) for 3 hr. Cells were lysed and protein was analyzed for phosphorylation of AKT and S6 (pAKT and pS6) or for GAPDH by Western blotting.

PC3-LN4 cells were treated with GSK690693 (5 uM) alone, or in combination with PP242 (2 uM) or AZD8055 (1 uM) for 24 h, and immunoblotting performed.

mTOR inhibitors attenuate ganetespib-driven elevation of HSPs in multiple tumor cell types. A375 melanoma cells were treated with vehicle, ganetespib (25 nmol/L), BEZ235 (500 nmol/L), or temsirolimus (500 nmol/L), either alone or in combination, for 24 hours. The levels of HSP90α, HSP70, HSP27, and GAPDH were determined by immunoblotting.

(D) IGROV parental, shControl (two independent clones) and ShPKCiota (two independent clones) were treated with 5 μM GDC-0941 and 1.5 μM PI-103 for 24 hours and subjected to western blot analysis with the indicated antibodies. Each experiment was performed in triplicate.

mTORC2-mediated stretch-induced SGK-1 phosphorylation. SMCs infected with Ad-SGK-1 were pretreated with PPP (10 μmol/L), rapamycin (100 nmol/L),or Ku-0063794 (10 μmol/L) for 30 minutes and then were subjected to stretch or IGF-1 (10 ng/mL) for 30 minutes.

 

MTORC1 regulates the subcellular distribution of TFEB. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy showing nuclear localization of recombinant TFEB-Flag in ARPE-19 cells incubated with MTORC1 inhibitors (PP242, LY294002, Wortmannin).

Effect of FK506 on cytosolic calcium homeostasis induced by TG and thrombin in human platelets. (A-B) Human platelets were suspended in a Ca 2+-free medium (100 µM of EGTA was added as indicated by arrowhead), and preincubated for 5 min at 37oC in the absence (solid black traces) or presence of increased concentrations (0.01-100 µM) of FK506 (light-doted and dark solid-grey traces, respectively). Cells were then stimulated with TG (200 nM; A) or Thr (0.1 U/mL; B) and 3 min later 300 μM of CaCl2 was added to extracellular medium to visualize calcium entry.

Protein analysis of ARK1 and ARK2 (A) xenografts following acute therapy with vehicle, ridaforolimus, lapatinib and trastuzumab or the triple combination.

Blockade of PD-1 in combination with INK128 inhibits liver cancer cell proliferation and clone formation in vitro in immunocompetent mice. (A) Representative pictures show the clone formation of different administered groups in SMMC7721 PD-1 OE cells. (B) Histogram showing mean number of cloned formed 6 SD in each group. P < 0.05. (C) Optical density values 6 SD of Cell Counting Kit 8 assay in different administered groups in SMMC7721 PD-1 OE cells. (D,E) Flow-cytometric assessment of cell death with percent of annexin V1/7-aminoactinomycin D1 cells, mean 6 SEM. (F,G) Tumor growth kinetics (mean±SD) of different administered groups versus corresponding control in C57BL/6 mice subcutaneously implanted with PD-1 OE or vector-control Hepa1-6 cells. *P < 0.5; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; #, not significant. Abbreviations: 7-AAD, 7-aminoactinomycin D; CCK8, Cell Counting Kit 8; NS, not significant; OD, optical density.

The TMZ/XL765 combination decreases serum GH and PRL of mice bearing GH3 xenografts. A and B, After treatment with DMSO, TMZ, XL765, or the XL765/TMZ combination, the blood of the nude mice xenograft with GH3 tumor was collected and serum rat-GH and rat-PRL were measured by IRMA (TMZ/XL765 combination vs TMZ or XL765 alone: ***P <.001).

Huh-7.5 cells were treated with increasing concentration of Torin 1, a known autophagy inducer, and the autophagy response was assessed by measuring LC3II and p62 levels.

A, Effects of AUY922 and GSK458 alone on pathways downstream of KRAS. Western blotting of EGFR, pEGFR, pMEK, MEK, pAKT, AKT, pERK, ERK, HSP70, cleaved (c)PARP, and pRSK levels in two PI3K inhibitor-resistant NSCLC cell lines following treatment with each drug. β-Actin was included as a loading control.

Cells were treated during 7 days with OSI-027 (C, D). Response is expressed as the percentage of vehicle-treated control (±s.e.m.). Control is normalised at 100%.

BMDMs from WT animals were treated with different concentrations of PI3K inhibitors (500 nmol/L PF4691502, PI-103, BKM120 and 25 μmol/L SF1126) followed by hypoxia for 4 hours for Western blots. These macrophages were either used for lysate preparation (nuclear extracts for HIFα or WCE for pAKT and AKT) and Western blot analysis.

Inhibition of PI3Kγ or PI3Kδ significantly decreased the migration of JVM3 cells. JVM3 cells were cultured in medium or stimulated for 24 h with CD40L/IL-4 and then incubated with the PI3Kγ-specific inhibitor CZC24832 (2 µM), the PI3Kδ-specific inhibitor idelalisib (1 µM), dual PI3Kδ/γ inhibitor duvelisib (1 µM), or the pan-PI3K inhibitor GDC0980 (1 µM) and subjected to a transwell migration assay. DMSO served as the vehicle control for the inhibitors, while SDF1α (100 ng/ml) served as the chemoattractant (n = 7).

The PI3K/AKT pathway significantly contributes to the ligand-driven HER2 signaling activities detected by CELx HSF tests. a and b SKBr3 cells were seeded in sensor plates and then treated with a serial titration of the PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor GSK1059615 (0 nM to 810 nM) two hours prior to maximal stimulation with NRG1b (800 pM) (a) or EGF (600 pM) (b). CELx curves are displayed using Delta CI values to demonstrate the relative signals to the time point (arrow) when the stimulus (EGF or NRG1b) was added. Dose–response curves of GSK1059615 inhibition on NRG1b and EGF-driven HER2 signals are shown in the insets

PI3K inhibitors promote apoptosis in checkpoint-defective cell lines. Two checkpoint-functional (A2058, D28) and three defective (HT144, D20, SKMel13) melanoma cell lines growth as tumour spheres as in Figure 4B were either untreated or treated with 5 uM PF-05212384 for 72 h, harvested and immunoblotted for pAkt Ser473.

MTOR Inhibitor WYE-354 Had Anti-tumor Activity Comparable to that of miR-199a-3p. The histological evaluation of liver lesions showed a similar reduction in number and size of tumor nodules in mice treated with both miR-199a-3p and the MTOR inhibitor. In the figure, miR-199a-3p is indicated as miR-199.

Immunofluorescent imaging of HAECs using VE-CAD (red) and p120 (green) antibodies was performed 12 h after DMSO (control), Torin-2 (100 nM), or EVL (500 nM) treatments. White arrows denote interendothelial gaps. White bar indicates 50 μm. EVL treatment increased VE-CAD mobilization from the membrane into the cytosol (relative to DMSO) with evidence of intracellular deposits and interendothelial gaps, whereas in DMSO-treated cells, there was colocalization of p120 and VE-CAD (yellow border) with no evidence of gap formation. In Torin-2-treated cells, there was evidence of colocalization of p120 and VE-CAD at cell borders with minimal interendothelial gap formation.

SW620 and SW620:8055R cells were treated with increasing concentrations of WYE-125132 for 24 hours and cell proliferation was assayed by [³H]thymidine incorporation. Results are the mean盋oV for three biological replicates from a single experiment; identical results were obtained in n=3 experiments.

IGROV1-R10 cells were treated with BGT266(250nM) for 8 h.The effect of BGT226 on PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway activation (A) and on expression of Mcl-1 and Bim (B).

(A) Cell growth rate fromP529 (2 μM) and vehicle treated MFN2 knockout MCF-7 (left) and A549 cells (right). (B) Representative pictures (left) and statistical analysis (right) shown colony formation from P529 and vehicle treated MFN2 knockout MCF-7 and A549 cells. (C,D) In vitro wound closure of P529 and vehicle treated MFN-2 knockout MCF-7 cells (C) and A549 cells (D) from 24 h after scratch assay.

PP121 induces apoptosis in ATC cells. CAL62 cells were treated with PP121 at the indicated concentrations for 48 h, followed by PI staining. The nuclei were stained with Hoechst and analyzed using a fluorescent microscope. The representative images are shown.

Immunofluorescent double staining for K19 and pHH3 on HepG2 cells in non-coated condition, Ln-332 coated condition or Ln-332 coated condition supplemented with mTOR inhibitors (either rapamycin or WYE-687; n = 4).

WAY-600 blocks mTORC1/2 activation, but activates MEK-ERK signaling in HCC cells. HepG2 cells or primary HCC cells (“Pnt-2”) were treated with WAY-600 (“WAY”, 100 nM) for 1 h, mTOR-Raptor-Rictor association was tested by co-immunoprecipitation assay (A, for HepG2 cells), expression of listed kinases (p- and regular) was tested by Western blots (BeE).

The established (SQ20B/UMSCC47/SCC90 cells) or primary (“P1/P2/P3”) human NSCC cells as well as normal oral epithelial cells (“Epithelial cells”) were treated with indicated concentration of GDC-0349, rapamycin (“Rap”) or RAD001 for applied time, cell proliferation was tested by CCK-8 assay. Expression of listed proteins in primary human NSCC cells was tested by Western blot analysis (D, right panel). “UNTR” indicates untreated control cells. * p < 0.05 vs. “UNTR” cells. # p < 0.05 vs. GDC-0349-only cells.

HL60, HL60/ADR, K562 and K562/A02 cells pretreated with various concentrations of Voxtalisib (0, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 μM) for 48 h were harvested for western blot. The levels of cyclin D1, p27, and p-pRb in the nuclei were determined.

After starved in serum-free medium for 24h, A549 cells incubated with the indicated concentrations of Chrysophanic acid for 3h,followed by 15-minute stimolation of 100ng/ml EGF

Fig 1. CC-223 is cytotoxic and anti-proliferative to cultured human HCC cells. Cultured HCC cell lines (HepG2, KYN-2 and Huh-7 lines), L02 normal hepatocytes as well as the primary human HCC cells ("HCC1/2/3" lines) were either left untreated ("C", same for all figures) or treated with designated concentration of CC-223 (10–1000 nM), cells were further cultivated in conditional medium for indicated time; Cell survival (A, B, C and E), and proliferation (D) were tested by listed assays. Data were expressed as mean ± SD (Same for all figures). n = 5 means five replicate wells (Same for Figs 1–4). * p <0.05 vs. "C".

The structure and formula weight of LY3023414 were presented (A). Established human glioma cells (U251MG and A172 lines), primary human astrocytes (“Astrocytes”) or primary human glioma cells [three lines, “Glioma (L1/2/3)”], were either left untreated (“Ctrl”) or treated with LY3023414 at 1-1000 nM, cells were further cultured for indicated time; Cell survival was tested (B, C, and E) (n=5). Cell proliferation was also tested by the BrdU ELISA assay (D and F) (n=5). *p < 0.05 vs. “Ctrl”. Experiments in this figure were repeated three times.

Exosomal miR-124-3p inhibited neuronal inflammation by suppressing the activity of mTOR signaling. A, B) Immunoblot (A) and quantitative (B) data of p-4E-BP1 and p-P70S6K in neurons after scratch injury and exosomal treatment. Their expression was increased after scratch injury and was suppressed by miR-124-3p–up-regulated exosomes, suggesting that miR-124-3p suppresses the activity of mTOR signaling (n = 6/group). ##P < 0.01 vs. control group; **P < 0.01 vs. injury group. C) Expression levels of inflammatory mediators in the culture medium were detected in the 3 groups of neurons: injured neurons (injury group), injured neurons treated with miR-124-3p–up-regulated exosomes (I+Exo-124), and injured neurons treated with miR-124-3p-up-regulated exosomes and the mTOR activator (MHY1485). Compared with the I+Exo-124 group, the MHY1485 group represented an increased expression on proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and a decreased expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10), suggesting that MHY1485 blocks the anti-inflammatory effect of miR-124-3p in injured neurons. Thus, the inhibitory effect of exosomal miR-124-3p on neuronal inflammation was exerted by suppressing the activity of mTOR signaling (n = 6/group). #P < 0.05 vs. injury group; *P < 0.05 vs. I+Exo-124 group.

Level of phospho-proteins in RTK and PI3K–Akt–mTOR pathways in treated tumours, detected with western blot.

Protein blots showing MYC expression in naive and persister cells after 3 d of treatment with 2 uM AKT inhibitor MK-2206 (AKTi) or 10 nM mTOR inhibitor rapamycin (Rapa).

Effects on PI3K signaling. Tumor cells were treated with DMSO, BEZ-235 (5uM, 1uM), BKM-120 (5uM, 1uM), RAD-001(5uM, 1uM) or cyclopamine (2.5uM, 1uM) for 3 hr. Cells were lysed and protein was analyzed for phosphorylation of AKT and S6 (pAKT and pS6) or for GAPDH by Western blotting.

PC3-LN4 cells were treated with GSK690693 (5 uM) alone, or in combination with PP242 (2 uM) or AZD8055 (1 uM) for 24 h, and immunoblotting performed.

mTOR inhibitors attenuate ganetespib-driven elevation of HSPs in multiple tumor cell types. A375 melanoma cells were treated with vehicle, ganetespib (25 nmol/L), BEZ235 (500 nmol/L), or temsirolimus (500 nmol/L), either alone or in combination, for 24 hours. The levels of HSP90α, HSP70, HSP27, and GAPDH were determined by immunoblotting.

(D) IGROV parental, shControl (two independent clones) and ShPKCiota (two independent clones) were treated with 5 μM GDC-0941 and 1.5 μM PI-103 for 24 hours and subjected to western blot analysis with the indicated antibodies. Each experiment was performed in triplicate.

mTORC2-mediated stretch-induced SGK-1 phosphorylation. SMCs infected with Ad-SGK-1 were pretreated with PPP (10 μmol/L), rapamycin (100 nmol/L),or Ku-0063794 (10 μmol/L) for 30 minutes and then were subjected to stretch or IGF-1 (10 ng/mL) for 30 minutes.

 

MTORC1 regulates the subcellular distribution of TFEB. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy showing nuclear localization of recombinant TFEB-Flag in ARPE-19 cells incubated with MTORC1 inhibitors (PP242, LY294002, Wortmannin).

Effect of FK506 on cytosolic calcium homeostasis induced by TG and thrombin in human platelets. (A-B) Human platelets were suspended in a Ca 2+-free medium (100 µM of EGTA was added as indicated by arrowhead), and preincubated for 5 min at 37oC in the absence (solid black traces) or presence of increased concentrations (0.01-100 µM) of FK506 (light-doted and dark solid-grey traces, respectively). Cells were then stimulated with TG (200 nM; A) or Thr (0.1 U/mL; B) and 3 min later 300 μM of CaCl2 was added to extracellular medium to visualize calcium entry.

Protein analysis of ARK1 and ARK2 (A) xenografts following acute therapy with vehicle, ridaforolimus, lapatinib and trastuzumab or the triple combination.

Blockade of PD-1 in combination with INK128 inhibits liver cancer cell proliferation and clone formation in vitro in immunocompetent mice. (A) Representative pictures show the clone formation of different administered groups in SMMC7721 PD-1 OE cells. (B) Histogram showing mean number of cloned formed 6 SD in each group. P < 0.05. (C) Optical density values 6 SD of Cell Counting Kit 8 assay in different administered groups in SMMC7721 PD-1 OE cells. (D,E) Flow-cytometric assessment of cell death with percent of annexin V1/7-aminoactinomycin D1 cells, mean 6 SEM. (F,G) Tumor growth kinetics (mean±SD) of different administered groups versus corresponding control in C57BL/6 mice subcutaneously implanted with PD-1 OE or vector-control Hepa1-6 cells. *P < 0.5; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; #, not significant. Abbreviations: 7-AAD, 7-aminoactinomycin D; CCK8, Cell Counting Kit 8; NS, not significant; OD, optical density.

The TMZ/XL765 combination decreases serum GH and PRL of mice bearing GH3 xenografts. A and B, After treatment with DMSO, TMZ, XL765, or the XL765/TMZ combination, the blood of the nude mice xenograft with GH3 tumor was collected and serum rat-GH and rat-PRL were measured by IRMA (TMZ/XL765 combination vs TMZ or XL765 alone: ***P <.001).

Huh-7.5 cells were treated with increasing concentration of Torin 1, a known autophagy inducer, and the autophagy response was assessed by measuring LC3II and p62 levels.

A, Effects of AUY922 and GSK458 alone on pathways downstream of KRAS. Western blotting of EGFR, pEGFR, pMEK, MEK, pAKT, AKT, pERK, ERK, HSP70, cleaved (c)PARP, and pRSK levels in two PI3K inhibitor-resistant NSCLC cell lines following treatment with each drug. β-Actin was included as a loading control.

Cells were treated during 7 days with OSI-027 (C, D). Response is expressed as the percentage of vehicle-treated control (±s.e.m.). Control is normalised at 100%.

BMDMs from WT animals were treated with different concentrations of PI3K inhibitors (500 nmol/L PF4691502, PI-103, BKM120 and 25 μmol/L SF1126) followed by hypoxia for 4 hours for Western blots. These macrophages were either used for lysate preparation (nuclear extracts for HIFα or WCE for pAKT and AKT) and Western blot analysis.

Inhibition of PI3Kγ or PI3Kδ significantly decreased the migration of JVM3 cells. JVM3 cells were cultured in medium or stimulated for 24 h with CD40L/IL-4 and then incubated with the PI3Kγ-specific inhibitor CZC24832 (2 µM), the PI3Kδ-specific inhibitor idelalisib (1 µM), dual PI3Kδ/γ inhibitor duvelisib (1 µM), or the pan-PI3K inhibitor GDC0980 (1 µM) and subjected to a transwell migration assay. DMSO served as the vehicle control for the inhibitors, while SDF1α (100 ng/ml) served as the chemoattractant (n = 7).

The PI3K/AKT pathway significantly contributes to the ligand-driven HER2 signaling activities detected by CELx HSF tests. a and b SKBr3 cells were seeded in sensor plates and then treated with a serial titration of the PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor GSK1059615 (0 nM to 810 nM) two hours prior to maximal stimulation with NRG1b (800 pM) (a) or EGF (600 pM) (b). CELx curves are displayed using Delta CI values to demonstrate the relative signals to the time point (arrow) when the stimulus (EGF or NRG1b) was added. Dose–response curves of GSK1059615 inhibition on NRG1b and EGF-driven HER2 signals are shown in the insets

PI3K inhibitors promote apoptosis in checkpoint-defective cell lines. Two checkpoint-functional (A2058, D28) and three defective (HT144, D20, SKMel13) melanoma cell lines growth as tumour spheres as in Figure 4B were either untreated or treated with 5 uM PF-05212384 for 72 h, harvested and immunoblotted for pAkt Ser473.

MTOR Inhibitor WYE-354 Had Anti-tumor Activity Comparable to that of miR-199a-3p. The histological evaluation of liver lesions showed a similar reduction in number and size of tumor nodules in mice treated with both miR-199a-3p and the MTOR inhibitor. In the figure, miR-199a-3p is indicated as miR-199.

Immunofluorescent imaging of HAECs using VE-CAD (red) and p120 (green) antibodies was performed 12 h after DMSO (control), Torin-2 (100 nM), or EVL (500 nM) treatments. White arrows denote interendothelial gaps. White bar indicates 50 μm. EVL treatment increased VE-CAD mobilization from the membrane into the cytosol (relative to DMSO) with evidence of intracellular deposits and interendothelial gaps, whereas in DMSO-treated cells, there was colocalization of p120 and VE-CAD (yellow border) with no evidence of gap formation. In Torin-2-treated cells, there was evidence of colocalization of p120 and VE-CAD at cell borders with minimal interendothelial gap formation.

SW620 and SW620:8055R cells were treated with increasing concentrations of WYE-125132 for 24 hours and cell proliferation was assayed by [³H]thymidine incorporation. Results are the mean盋oV for three biological replicates from a single experiment; identical results were obtained in n=3 experiments.

IGROV1-R10 cells were treated with BGT266(250nM) for 8 h.The effect of BGT226 on PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway activation (A) and on expression of Mcl-1 and Bim (B).

(A) Cell growth rate fromP529 (2 μM) and vehicle treated MFN2 knockout MCF-7 (left) and A549 cells (right). (B) Representative pictures (left) and statistical analysis (right) shown colony formation from P529 and vehicle treated MFN2 knockout MCF-7 and A549 cells. (C,D) In vitro wound closure of P529 and vehicle treated MFN-2 knockout MCF-7 cells (C) and A549 cells (D) from 24 h after scratch assay.

PP121 induces apoptosis in ATC cells. CAL62 cells were treated with PP121 at the indicated concentrations for 48 h, followed by PI staining. The nuclei were stained with Hoechst and analyzed using a fluorescent microscope. The representative images are shown.

Immunofluorescent double staining for K19 and pHH3 on HepG2 cells in non-coated condition, Ln-332 coated condition or Ln-332 coated condition supplemented with mTOR inhibitors (either rapamycin or WYE-687; n = 4).

WAY-600 blocks mTORC1/2 activation, but activates MEK-ERK signaling in HCC cells. HepG2 cells or primary HCC cells (“Pnt-2”) were treated with WAY-600 (“WAY”, 100 nM) for 1 h, mTOR-Raptor-Rictor association was tested by co-immunoprecipitation assay (A, for HepG2 cells), expression of listed kinases (p- and regular) was tested by Western blots (BeE).

The established (SQ20B/UMSCC47/SCC90 cells) or primary (“P1/P2/P3”) human NSCC cells as well as normal oral epithelial cells (“Epithelial cells”) were treated with indicated concentration of GDC-0349, rapamycin (“Rap”) or RAD001 for applied time, cell proliferation was tested by CCK-8 assay. Expression of listed proteins in primary human NSCC cells was tested by Western blot analysis (D, right panel). “UNTR” indicates untreated control cells. * p < 0.05 vs. “UNTR” cells. # p < 0.05 vs. GDC-0349-only cells.

HL60, HL60/ADR, K562 and K562/A02 cells pretreated with various concentrations of Voxtalisib (0, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 μM) for 48 h were harvested for western blot. The levels of cyclin D1, p27, and p-pRb in the nuclei were determined.

After starved in serum-free medium for 24h, A549 cells incubated with the indicated concentrations of Chrysophanic acid for 3h,followed by 15-minute stimolation of 100ng/ml EGF

Fig 1. CC-223 is cytotoxic and anti-proliferative to cultured human HCC cells. Cultured HCC cell lines (HepG2, KYN-2 and Huh-7 lines), L02 normal hepatocytes as well as the primary human HCC cells ("HCC1/2/3" lines) were either left untreated ("C", same for all figures) or treated with designated concentration of CC-223 (10–1000 nM), cells were further cultivated in conditional medium for indicated time; Cell survival (A, B, C and E), and proliferation (D) were tested by listed assays. Data were expressed as mean ± SD (Same for all figures). n = 5 means five replicate wells (Same for Figs 1–4). * p <0.05 vs. "C".

The structure and formula weight of LY3023414 were presented (A). Established human glioma cells (U251MG and A172 lines), primary human astrocytes (“Astrocytes”) or primary human glioma cells [three lines, “Glioma (L1/2/3)”], were either left untreated (“Ctrl”) or treated with LY3023414 at 1-1000 nM, cells were further cultured for indicated time; Cell survival was tested (B, C, and E) (n=5). Cell proliferation was also tested by the BrdU ELISA assay (D and F) (n=5). *p < 0.05 vs. “Ctrl”. Experiments in this figure were repeated three times.

Exosomal miR-124-3p inhibited neuronal inflammation by suppressing the activity of mTOR signaling. A, B) Immunoblot (A) and quantitative (B) data of p-4E-BP1 and p-P70S6K in neurons after scratch injury and exosomal treatment. Their expression was increased after scratch injury and was suppressed by miR-124-3p–up-regulated exosomes, suggesting that miR-124-3p suppresses the activity of mTOR signaling (n = 6/group). ##P < 0.01 vs. control group; **P < 0.01 vs. injury group. C) Expression levels of inflammatory mediators in the culture medium were detected in the 3 groups of neurons: injured neurons (injury group), injured neurons treated with miR-124-3p–up-regulated exosomes (I+Exo-124), and injured neurons treated with miR-124-3p-up-regulated exosomes and the mTOR activator (MHY1485). Compared with the I+Exo-124 group, the MHY1485 group represented an increased expression on proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and a decreased expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10), suggesting that MHY1485 blocks the anti-inflammatory effect of miR-124-3p in injured neurons. Thus, the inhibitory effect of exosomal miR-124-3p on neuronal inflammation was exerted by suppressing the activity of mTOR signaling (n = 6/group). #P < 0.05 vs. injury group; *P < 0.05 vs. I+Exo-124 group.