mTOR and vascular remodeling in lung diseases: current challenges and therapeutic prospects

Area of Science:

• Cellular Biology
• Physiology
• Pathology

Background:

• Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates cellular processes and is linked to diseases like cancer and diabetes.
• Pulmonary vascular remodeling, characterized by cellular proliferation and altered metabolism, is a hallmark of pulmonary hypertension.
• Hypoxia is a significant trigger for pulmonary hypertension and associated vascular remodeling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of the mTOR pathway in pulmonary vascular remodeling.
• To focus on the impact of hypoxia on mTOR signaling in pulmonary hypertension.
• To explore mTOR inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on mTOR signaling and pulmonary hypertension.
• Analysis of research linking hypoxia to mTOR pathway activation.
• Evaluation of preclinical and clinical data on mTOR inhibitors.

Main Results:

• mTOR signaling is implicated in the proliferation, survival, and metabolic changes of pulmonary vascular cells.
• Hypoxia activates the mTOR pathway, contributing to pulmonary vascular remodeling.
• mTOR inhibitors have demonstrated potential in mitigating pulmonary vascular remodeling in preclinical models.

Conclusions:

• The mTOR pathway is a critical mediator of pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension, particularly under hypoxic conditions.
• Targeting the mTOR pathway with inhibitors represents a promising therapeutic strategy for pulmonary hypertension.