Phytochemical modulation of the Akt/mTOR pathway and its potential use in cutaneous disease

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is involved in the regulation of cellular growth, proliferation, lipid synthesis, and protein translation. The mTOR pathway involves two complexes: the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2). Both mTOR complexes have been implicated in the development and progression of various skin diseases including melanoma, psoriasis, and acne vulgaris. Here, we review the role of both mTORC1 and mTORC2 as well as their upstream modulators, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase B (Akt), and their downstream targets in various dermatologic diseases. Phytochemicals, plant-derived naturally occurring compounds, have been shown to regulate the mTOR pathway and may serve as novel therapeutic agents in dermatological disease. Here, we review phytochemicals in the context of the mTOR pathway and their potential use in cutaneous disease.