Title:Targeting mTOR Signaling in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetes Complications
Volume: 23
Issue: 7
Author(s): Lin Yang, Zhixin Zhang, Doudou Wang, Yu Jiang*Ying Liu*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology
and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh PA15261, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
Keywords:
mTORC1, mTORC2, type 2 diabetes mellitus, diabetic complications, mTOR inhibitor, pivotal regulator.
Abstract: The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a pivotal regulator of cell metabolism
and growth. In the form of two different multi-protein complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, mTOR
integrates cellular energy, nutrient and hormonal signals to regulate cellular metabolic homeostasis.
In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), pathological conditions and end-organ complications can
be attributed to aberrant mTOR. Substantial evidence suggests that two mTOR-mediated signaling
schemes, mTORC1-p70S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) and mTORC2-protein kinase B (AKT), play a critical
role in insulin sensitivity and that their dysfunction contributes to the development of T2DM. This
review summarizes our current understanding of the role of mTOR signaling in T2DM and its associated
complications, as well as the potential use of mTOR inhibitors in the treatment of T2DM.