NF-κB couples protein kinase B/Akt signaling to distinct survival pathways and the regulation of lymphocyte homeostasis in vivo

Protein kinase B (PKBα/Akt1) a PI3K-dependent serine-threonine kinase, promotes T cell viability in response to many stimuli and regulates homeostasis and autoimmune disease in vivo. To dissect the mechanisms by which PKB inhibits apoptosis, we have examined the pathways downstream of PKB that promote survival after cytokine withdrawal vs Fas-mediated death. Our studies show that PKB-mediated survival after cytokine withdrawal is independent of protein synthesis and the induction of NF-κB. In contrast, PKB requires de novo gene transcription by NF-κB to block apoptosis triggered by the Fas death receptor. Using gene-deficient and transgenic mouse models, we establish that NF-κB1 and not c-Rel, is the critical signaling molecule downstream of the PDK-PTEN-PKB signaling axis that regulates lymphocyte homeoslasis.