Roles of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase and mammalian target of rapamycin/p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase in K-Ras-mediated transformation of intestinal epithelial cells.

Phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K) activity is required for Ras- mediated transformation of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its downstream pathways control the translation of specific mRNAs that are required for cell proliferation and transformation. Here, we elucidated the roles of PI3K and mTOR in K-Ras-mediated transformation of IECs (IEC-6). Induction of K-Ras activated PI3K and mTOR in IECs. p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase activity was induced by K-Ras in a PI3K- and mTOR-dependent manner. K-Ras did not significantly alter the phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1. Treatment with either LY-294002 or rapamycin inhibited IEC proliferation and resulted in G(1) growth arrest. However, it was noted that inhibition of mTOR enhanced K-Ras-mediated morphological transformation and increased invasiveness of IECs in a mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent manner. Furthermore, inhibition of PI3K or mTOR impaired the growth of an array of colon cancer cells. Spindle transformation, reduced E-cadherin, and increased invasiveness were observed in LY-294002-treated Moser cells. Thus, our results suggest that K-Ras-mediated transformation of IECs involves activation of the PI3K/mTOR pathway. Inhibition of PI3K/mTOR activity leads to G(1) growth arrest of transformed IECs. On the other hand, inhibition of PI3K or mTOR may induce the epithelial to mesenchymal transdifferentiation of IECs under certain circumstances.