Title:mTOR: A Novel Therapeutic Target for Diseases of Multiple Systems
Volume: 16
Issue: 10
Author(s): Zhao Zhong Chong
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Akt, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, mTOR, neurodegenerative disease.
Abstract: Significant progress in the research of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in recent
years, has greatly enhanced our understanding of the role and cellular pathways through which mTOR
control cellular processes, such as translational initiation, actin organization, cell proliferation, and cell
survival. mTOR is activated by phosphorylation and functions mainly through mTOR complex 1 or
mTOR complex 2. mTORC1 is activated through tuberous sclerosis complex 1/2 dependent and independent
mechanisms following the stimulation by growth factors, nutrient, amino acids, and other signaling
pathways. The activity of mTOR is closely associated with cell proliferation and differentiation,
apoptosis, and autophagy. Activation of mTOR prevents the induction of both apoptosis and autophagy through regulating
its multiple targets. Given that the activity of mTOR has been involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders,
cardiovascular abnormalities, metabolic diseases, renal transplantation, autoimmune abnormalities, and cancer, manipulating
mTOR activation may represent as an innovative therapeutic strategy for these diseases. Yet, the role of mTOR
in the body is complicated and therefore, its activity needs to be tightly regulated to achieve beneficial outcome in a specific
pathological condition.
