The mTOR Signaling Pathway: Key Regulator and Therapeutic Target for Heart Disease

Abstract

Heart disease, including myocardial infarction, heart failure, cardiac hypertrophy, and cardiomyopathy, remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a centrally regulated kinase that governs key cellular processes, including growth, proliferation, metabolism, and survival. Notably, mTOR plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular health and disease, particularly in the onset and progression of cardiac conditions. In this review, we discuss mTOR's structure and function as well as the regulatory mechanisms of its associated signaling pathways. We focus on the molecular mechanisms by which mTOR signaling regulates cardiac diseases and the potential of mTOR inhibitors and related regulatory drugs in preventing these conditions. We conclude that the mTOR signaling pathway is a promising therapeutic target for heart disease.

Keywords: heart disease; mTOR; signaling pathway; target.

Figure 1

mTOR signaling pathway in cells. The mTOR’s structure and function as well as the regulatory mechanisms of its associated signaling pathways are illustrated.

Figure 2

The function of GPR39, TFEC, KLK22, CAP4, and HRT2A during myocardial hypertrophy. Under hypertrophic stress, the KLK22, CAP4, and HTR2A expression is upregulated, leading to the activation of PI3K. Activated PI3K promotes AKT activation in a PDK1-dependent manner. GPR39 and TFEC overexpression leads to AMPK inhibition. The activation of mTOR and S6K1 signaling results in the increased protein synthesis and hypertrophic growth of cardiomyocytes.