Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aigli G. Vakrakou, Anastasia Alexaki, Maria-Evgenia Brinia, Maria Anagnostouli, Leonidas Stefanis, Panos Stathopoulos
Summary: This article summarizes the evidence on the role of mammalian targets of rapamycin (mTOR) complex pathways in multiple sclerosis (MS), including autophagy, inflammasome activation, immune responses, and neuronal toxicity. There is robust evidence that mTOR inhibitors, such as rapamycin, improve the clinical course of MS animal models. New research highlights the effects of mTOR on T cells and myeloid cells, providing insight into MS pathogenesis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nastaran Daneshgar, Peter S. Rabinovitch, Dao-Fu Dai
Summary: mTOR signaling plays a crucial role in regulating cellular metabolism and aging by controlling key cellular processes such as protein synthesis, autophagy, and mitochondrial function. Dysregulation of mTOR signaling has been associated with various age-related pathologies, including heart failure and age-related cardiac dysfunction.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yan Wang, Sixu Zhou, Xujiao Song, Shanshan Ding, Baogui Wang, Jiangfeng Wen, Chunlin Chen
Summary: Crocin, a monomer extracted from saffron, exhibits a significant antidepressant effect by improving cell survival rate and synaptic growth, alleviating depressive behavior, and promoting the expression of specific proteins. However, its antidepressant effects are inhibited when used in conjunction with rapamycin. This suggests that the mechanism of crocin's antidepressant effect may be related to the mTOR signaling pathway.
NEUROCHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Wei Zhao, Cong Xie, Xu Zhang, Ju Liu, Jinzhi Liu, Zhangyong Xia
Summary: Epilepsy is a common and serious brain syndrome that has adverse effects on a patient's wellbeing and quality of life. The dysregulation of the mTOR pathway is believed to play a significant role in the development and progression of epilepsy. This review discusses the role of the mTOR signaling pathway in epilepsy pathogenesis and the potential use of mTOR inhibitors for treatment.
BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Kehong Liu, Yingqi Peng, Ling Lin, Zhihua Gong, Wenjun Xiao, Yinhua Li
Summary: In this study, it was found that L-theanine (LTA) found in tea can affect amino acid absorption and protein synthesis in the intestine, thereby regulating lipid and protein metabolism. The results showed that LTA supplementation not only influenced the levels of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), total protein (TP), and urea nitrogen (BUN) in the serum, but also upregulated the expression of amino acid transporters and activated the mTOR signaling pathway. These findings suggest that LTA increases intestinal amino acid absorption, promotes protein metabolism, and improves nitrogen utilization.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rossana Segreto, Hoda Bazafkan, Julia Millinger, Martina Schenk, Lea Atanasova, Maria Doppler, Christoph Bueschl, Melanie Boeckstaens, Silvia Soto Diaz, Ulrike Schreiner, Fabiano Sillo, Raffaella Balestrini, Rainer Schuhmacher, Susanne Zeilinger
Summary: Trichoderma atroviride, a well-known mycoparasite used for plant protection, shows tightly regulated mycoparasitic activity involving production of enzymes and metabolites, influenced by TOR1 activity. Genetic manipulation affecting TOR pathway components in T. atroviride alters various cellular functions, highlighting the importance of TOR signaling in its antagonistic activity.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Qian Wu, Qianyu Lv, Xiao'an Liu, Xuejiao Ye, Linlin Cao, Manshi Wang, Junjia Li, Yingtian Yang, Lanlan Li, Shihan Wang
Summary: Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that is a major cause of cardiovascular diseases. The activation of the mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is closely associated with the risk of AS. The mTOR signaling pathway contributes to AS progression through regulating autophagy, cell senescence, immune response, and lipid metabolism. Botanical drugs and their functional compounds have shown anti-AS effects by modulating the activity of the mTOR signaling pathway. This review summarizes the pathogenesis of AS based on the mTOR signaling pathway and recent advances in natural compounds to inhibit the mTOR signaling pathway and delay AS development, providing a new perspective on the mechanisms and precision treatments of AS.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Orthopedics
Yanghua Tang, Yafeng Mo, Dawei Xin, Zhenfei Xiong, Linru Zeng, Gan Luo, Yanguang Cao
Summary: The study revealed that beta-ecdysterone may promote fracture healing by enhancing autophagy and inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Experimental results showed that beta-ecdysterone significantly increased alkaline phosphatase activity and RunX2 expression in fractured osteoblasts, while suppressing the apoptotic rate.
JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY AND RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Delphine Sehedic, Loris Roncali, Amel Djoudi, Nela Buchtova, Sylvie Avril, Michel Cherel, Frank Boury, Franck Lacoeuille, Francois Hindre, Emmanuel Garcion
Summary: The study investigates a novel method for the formulation of safe rapamycin nanocarriers and confirms its potential in cancer treatment. Results show that LNC-rapa selectively inhibits the mTORC1 signaling pathway in the U87MG glioblastoma model. Additionally, there are differences in the mTOR inhibition response to rapamycin under different oxygen concentration conditions.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anastasia V. Poznyak, Vasily N. Sukhorukov, Alexander Zhuravlev, Nikolay A. Orekhov, Vladislav Kalmykov, Alexander N. Orekhov
Summary: Atherosclerosis has been a leading cause of death in developed countries for over a decade. The treatment and prevention of this disease are crucial, but there are still gaps in our understanding of its pathogenesis. The mTOR signaling pathway, although well-studied, continues to reveal new details. Therapeutic strategies associated with rapamycin have shown promise in other diseases, suggesting potential effectiveness in atherosclerosis as well.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Radha Mukherjee, Kiran G. Vanaja, Jacob A. Boyer, Sunyana Gadal, Hilla Solomon, Sarat Chandarlapaty, Andre Levchenko, Neal Rosen
Summary: The PI3K pathway regulates cell metabolism, proliferation, and migration, and dysregulation of this pathway is common in cancer. Physiologic and oncogenic activation of PI3K signaling both lead to increased expression of the negative regulator PTEN, limiting signal duration and pathway output. However, inhibition of the pathway reduces PTEN levels, contributing to pathway rebound in tumors treated with PI3K inhibitors.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sooyeon Choi, Seoyoon Ham, Young In Lee, Jihee Kim, Won Jai Lee, Ju Hee Lee
Summary: Keloid scars are fibro-proliferative conditions characterized by abnormal fibroblast proliferation and excessive extracellular matrix deposition. This study found that silibinin, a natural flavonoid, can inhibit the mTOR signaling pathway and reduce collagen expression in normal and keloid-derived fibroblasts, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for keloid scars.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Cagri Bodur, Dubek Kazyken, Kezhen Huang, Aaron Seth Tooley, Kae Won Cho, Tammy M. Barnes, Carey N. Lumeng, Martin G. Myers, Diane C. Fingar
Summary: TBK1-mTOR signaling plays a crucial role in controlling glucose metabolism and improving glycemic control during diet-induced obesity. Increased TBK1 activity and mTOR phosphorylation contribute to the attenuation of insulin resistance, leading to better glycemic control.
Article
Cell Biology
Xinwei Chen, Xuzhuo Chen, Rui Chao, Yexin Wang, Yi Mao, Baoting Fan, Yaosheng Zhang, Weifeng Xu, An Qin, Shanyong Zhang
Summary: This study demonstrates the important role of Dlk2 in osteoclast development and bone homeostasis, as well as the interaction between Dlk2 and the Syap1 signaling pathway. The results indicate that Dlk2 deletion inhibits osteoclast formation and leads to a high-bone-mass phenotype, with increased bone mass observed in ovariectomized mice.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Tao Liu, Xiangsen Liang, Yu Sun, Shengzhuang Yang
Summary: The study revealed that SIRT1 expression was upregulated in EC, and rapamycin suppressed cell viability, migration, invasion, and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in EC by negatively regulating SIRT1.
EXPERIMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE
(2021)