Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 23, 2026

A Simple and Efficient Method for Testing Immunomodulatory Agents for Generation of Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells from Human CD14+ Monocytes
11:34

A Simple and Efficient Method for Testing Immunomodulatory Agents for Generation of Tolerogenic Dendritic Cells from Human CD14+ Monocytes

Published on: April 11, 2025

Immune regulation by rapamycin: moving beyond T cells

Matthew R Janes1, David A Fruman

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697-3900, USA.

Science Signaling
|April 23, 2009
PubMed

Insights

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway regulates cell growth and immunity. Rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, impacts both adaptive and innate immune cells, offering new strategies for immune modulation.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key kinase regulating cell growth and division.
  • Rapamycin is known for its immunosuppressive effects on lymphocytes.
  • mTOR signaling is crucial for immune cell function and response.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of mTOR in innate immune cells.
  • To understand how rapamycin modulates adaptive immunity via innate immune cells.
  • To explore mTOR's downstream functions in myeloid cells and dendritic cells.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of rapamycin-sensitive functions of mTOR.
  • Investigating mTOR signaling downstream of Toll-like receptors.
  • Studying cytokine responses in myeloid cells and interferon production in plasmacytoid dendritic cells.

Main Results:

  • Rapamycin modulates adaptive immunity through effects on innate immune cells like dendritic cells and macrophages.
  • mTOR, downstream of Toll-like receptors, shapes myeloid cell cytokine responses.
  • mTOR signaling drives interferon production in plasmacytoid dendritic cells.

Conclusions:

  • mTOR plays a significant role in innate immune cell function and cytokine production.
  • Rapamycin's immunomodulatory effects extend beyond lymphocytes to innate immune cells.
  • Targeting mTOR offers novel strategies for manipulating immune responses.

More Related Videos

Development and Application of Rapamycin-regulated Tyrosine Phosphatases06:56

Development and Application of Rapamycin-regulated Tyrosine Phosphatases

Published on: September 6, 2024

Mechanistic Insight into the Development of TNBS-Mediated Intestinal Fibrosis and Evaluating the Inhibitory Effects of Rapamycin10:21

Mechanistic Insight into the Development of TNBS-Mediated Intestinal Fibrosis and Evaluating the Inhibitory Effects of Rapamycin

Published on: September 12, 2019

Related Concept Videos

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells01:01

Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

All blood and immune cells are produced from the multipotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) by the process of hematopoiesis. However, they all have a limited life span. In addition, many are depleted in immune surveillance or combatting an injury or infection. This makes blood one of the most regenerative tissues. Hematopoiesis helps replenish these blood and immune cells, restoring the body's normal functioning. However, overproduction of blood and immune cells can make them cancerous or...
T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Cell-mediated Immune Responses01:40

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Overview