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Regulation of T cells by mTOR: the known knowns and the known unknowns

Kristen N Pollizzi1, Jonathan D Powell1

  • 1Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.

Trends in Immunology
|December 20, 2014
PubMed

Insights

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway regulates T cell responses. Understanding mTOR

Area of Science:

  • Immunology and molecular biology
  • Cellular signaling pathways

Background:

  • The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway integrates environmental signals to control T cell functions.
  • Recent research using genetic and pharmacologic tools has illuminated mTOR's role in T cell activation, differentiation, and immune regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the current understanding of mTOR's function in T cell biology.
  • To highlight emerging concepts and areas requiring further investigation regarding mTOR's role in T cells.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on mTOR signaling in T cells.
  • Analysis of studies involving pharmacologic inhibition and genetic deletion of mTOR pathway components.

Main Results:

  • Studies provide insights into mTOR-regulated immune mechanisms and downstream targets.
  • Conflicting findings across different experimental contexts underscore the complexity of mTOR signaling in T cells.

Conclusions:

  • The precise role of mTOR in T cell biology is complex and context-dependent.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate mTOR's functions and regulatory mechanisms in distinct T cell subsets and conditions.
Keywords:
T cellsmTORrapamycin

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