Exosomes are small membrane‐bound vesicles released into extracellular spaces by many types of cells. These nanovesicles carry proteins, mRNA, and miRNA, and are involved in cell waste management and intercellular communication. In the present study, it is shown that exosome release, which leads to net loss of cellular membrane and protein content, is negatively regulated by mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1). It is found that in cells and animal models exosome release is inhibited by sustained activation of mTORC1, leading to intracellular accumulation of CD63‐positive exosome precursors. Inhibition of mTORC1 by rapamycin or nutrient and growth factor deprivation stimulates exosome release, which occurs concomitantly with autophagy. The drug‐stimulated release is blocked by siRNA‐mediated downregulation of small GTPase Rab27A. Analysis of the cargo content in exosomes released from rapamycin‐treated cells reveals that inhibition of mTORC1 does not significantly alter its majority protein and miRNA profiles. These observations demonstrate that exosome release, like autophagy, is negatively regulated by mTORC1 in response to changes in nutrient and growth factor conditions.

The mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a critical sensor for bone homeostasis and bone formation; however, the role of mTORC1 in osteoclast development and the underlying mechanisms have not yet been fully established. Here, we found that mTORC1 activity declined during osteoclast precursors differentiation in vitro and in vivo. We further targeted deletion of Raptor (mTORC1 key component) or Tsc1 (mTORC1 negative regulator) to constitutively inhibit or activate mTORC1 in osteoclast precursors (monocytes/macrophages), using LyzM-cre mice. Osteoclastic formation was drastically increased in cultures of Raptor deficient bone marrow monocytes/macrophages (BMMs), and Raptor-deficient mice displayed osteopenia with enhanced osteoclastogenesis. Conversely, BMMs lacking Tsc1 exhibited a severe defect in osteoclast-like differentiation and absorptive function, both of which were restored following rapamycin treatment. Importantly, expression of nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1), transcription factors that are essential for osteoclast differentiation was negatively regulated by mTORC1 in osteoclast lineages. These results provide evidence that mTORC1 plays as a critical role as an osteoclastic differentiation-limiting signal and suggest a potential drawback in treating bone loss-related diseases with mTOR inhibitors clinically. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (Tsc1) is a tumor suppressor that functions together with Tsc2 to negatively regulate the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) activity. Here, we show that Tsc1 has a critical role in the tight junction (TJ) formation of epithelium, independent of its role in Tsc2 and mTORC1 regulation. When an epithelial cell establishes contact with neighboring cells, Tsc1, but not Tsc2, migrates from the cytoplasm to junctional membranes, in which it binds myosin 6 to anchor the perijunctional actin cytoskeleton to β-catenin and ZO-1. In its absence, perijunctional actin cytoskeleton fails to form. In mice, intestine-specific or inducible, whole-body Tsc1 ablation disrupts adherens junction/TJ structures in intestine or skin epithelia, respectively, causing Crohn’s disease–like symptoms in the intestine or psoriasis-like phenotypes on the skin. In patients with Crohn’s disease or psoriasis, junctional Tsc1 levels in epithelial tissues are markedly reduced, concomitant with the TJ structure impairment, suggesting that Tsc1 deficiency may underlie TJ-related diseases. These findings establish an essential role of Tsc1 in the formation of cell junctions and underpin its association with TJ-related human diseases.

Accumulation of obsolete biomolecules can accelerate cell senescence and organism aging. The two efficient intracellular systems, namely the ubiquitin‐proteasome system and the autophagy‐lysosome system, play important roles in dealing with cellular wastes. However, how multicellular organisms orchestrate the processing of obsolete molecules and delay aging remains unclear. Herein, it is shown that prevention of exosome release by GW4869 or Rab27a−/− accelerated senescence in various cells and mice, while stimulating exosome release by nutrient restriction delays aging. Interestingly, exosomes isolate from serum‐deprived cells or diet‐restricted human plasma, enriched with garbage biomolecules, including misfolded proteins, oxidized lipids, and proteins. These cellular wastes can be englobed by macrophages, eventually, for disintegration in vivo. Inhibition of nutrient‐sensing mTORC1 signaling increases exosome release and delays senescence, while constitutive activation of mTORC1 reduces exosome secretion and exacerbates senescence in vitro and in mice. Notably, inhibition of exosome release attenuates nutrient restriction‐ or rapamycin‐delayed senescence, supporting a key role for exosome secretion in this process. This study reveals a potential mechanism by which stimulated exosome release delays aging in multicellular organisms, by orchestrating the harmful biomolecules disposal via exosomes and macrophages.