Activation of mTOR has been implicated in a number of chronic inflammatory diseases, especially rheumatic diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (SSc), sjögren syndrome (SS) and seronegative spondyloarthropathy (SpA).
Pathway analysis revealed enrichment in cytokine-receptor interaction and mechanistic/mammalian target of rapamycin-related pathways, in addition to seemingly unrelated processes such as rheumatoid arthritis.
In this review, we summarize recent findings on the regulatory effects of mTOR signaling on inflammation and the therapeutic potency of mTOR pharmacological inhibitors in the treatment of inflammatory diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, atherosclerosis, sepsis, and rheumatoid arthritis for a better understanding and hence a better management of these diseases.
Therapeutic approaches aimed at glutathione depletion and mTOR pathway activation appear to be safe and effective for treating lupus, while an opposing intervention may be of benefit in rheumatoid arthritis.