scholarly journals mTOR Signaling in Kidney Diseases

Kidney360 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (11) ◽  
pp. 1319-1327
Author(s):  
Yuan Gui ◽  
Chunsun Dai
Keyword(s):  
Interstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin ◽  
Mtor Signaling ◽  
Renal Physiology ◽  
Polycystic Kidney ◽  
Constitutive Activation ◽  
Tubular Cells ◽  
Renal Regeneration ◽  
Growth Metabolism

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a serine/threonine protein kinase, is crucial in regulating cell growth, metabolism, proliferation, and survival. Under physiologic conditions, mTOR signaling maintains podocyte and tubular cell homeostasis. In AKI, activation of mTOR signaling in tubular cells and interstitial fibroblasts promotes renal regeneration and repair. However, constitutive activation of mTOR signaling in kidneys results in the initiation and progression of glomerular hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, polycystic kidney disease, and renal cell carcinoma. Here, we summarize the recent studies about mTOR signaling in renal physiology and injury, and discuss the possibility of its use as a therapeutic target for kidney diseases.

scholarly journals Concomitant use of rapamycin and rosiglitazone delays the progression of polycystic kidney disease in Han:SPRD rats: a study of the mechanism of action

2018 ◽  
Vol 314 (5) ◽  
pp. F844-F854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunyan Liu ◽  
Hongdong Li ◽  
Xiang Gao ◽  
Ming Yang ◽  
Li Yuan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Polycystic Kidney Disease ◽  
Interstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin ◽  
Term Treatment ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator ◽  
Polycystic Kidney ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor ◽  
Pparγ Agonist ◽  
Long Term Treatment

Attributing to their antiproliferative effect, both rapamycin and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) can halt the progression of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Whether combined use could enhance this effect is unknown. The present study used rapamycin and the PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone concomitantly to observe their combined effects on the proliferation of ADPKD cyst-lining epithelial cells and the progression of ADPKD in Han:SPRD rats. Concomitant use of the two drugs inhibited the proliferation of WT9–12 cells significantly through a superimposition effect. Rosiglitazone inhibited the phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin p70S6K. Concomitant use of rosiglitazone and rapamycin further downregulated the p-p70S6K level. Rosiglitazone also inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and antagonized the activation of Akt induced by rapamycin. Concomitant use of rosiglitazone and rapamycin significantly retarded the deterioration of renal function, decreased cyst cell proliferation and interstitial fibrosis in Han:SPRD rats. Rapamycin significantly increased cholesterol levels in the blood, whereas rosiglitazone mitigated rapamycin-induced hyperlipidemia. These results indicate that the effects of concomitant use of rosiglitazone and rapamycin in inhibiting the proliferation of WT9–12 cells and delaying the progression of ADPKD in Han:SPRD rats are stronger than those of either drug alone. The present study may provide a new strategy for the long-term treatment of ADPKD.

scholarly journals Therapeutic Use of mTOR Inhibitors in Renal Diseases: Advances, Drawbacks, and Challenges

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia D. Viana ◽  
Flávio Reis ◽  
Rui Alves
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Mtor Inhibitors ◽  
Mtor Pathway ◽  
Renal Physiology ◽  
Clinical Indication ◽  
Renal Diseases ◽  
Biological Processes ◽  
Polycystic Kidney ◽  
Cellular Life ◽  
Age Related

The mammalian (or mechanistic) target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway has a key role in the regulation of a variety of biological processes pivotal for cellular life, aging, and death. Impaired activity of mTOR complexes (mTORC1/mTORC2), particularly mTORC1 overactivation, has been implicated in a plethora of age-related disorders, including human renal diseases. Since the discovery of rapamycin (or sirolimus), more than four decades ago, advances in our understanding of how mTOR participates in renal physiological and pathological mechanisms have grown exponentially, due to both preclinical studies in animal models with genetic modification of some mTOR components as well as due to evidence coming from the clinical experience. The main clinical indication of rapamycin is as immunosuppressive therapy for the prevention of allograft rejection, namely, in renal transplantation. However, considering the central participation of mTOR in the pathogenesis of other renal disorders, the use of rapamycin and its analogs meanwhile developed (rapalogues) everolimus and temsirolimus has been viewed as a promising pharmacological strategy. This article critically reviews the use of mTOR inhibitors in renal diseases. Firstly, we briefly overview the mTOR components and signaling as well as the pharmacological armamentarium targeting the mTOR pathway currently available or in the research and development stages. Thereafter, we revisit the mTOR pathway in renal physiology to conclude with the advances, drawbacks, and challenges regarding the use of mTOR inhibitors, in a translational perspective, in four classes of renal diseases: kidney transplantation, polycystic kidney diseases, renal carcinomas, and diabetic nephropathy.

Kidney injury molecule-1 expression in murine polycystic kidney disease

2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (6) ◽  
pp. F1326-F1336 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Wolfgang Kuehn ◽  
Kwon Moo Park ◽  
Stefan Somlo ◽  
Joseph V. Bonventre
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Polycystic Kidney Disease ◽  
Autosomal Dominant ◽  
Interstitial Fibrosis ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Polycystic Kidney ◽  
Tubular Cells ◽  
Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney ◽  
Kidney Injury Molecule 1

Kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1) is a type 1 membrane protein maximally upregulated in proliferating and dedifferentiated tubular cells after renal ischemia. Because epithelial dedifferentiation, proliferation, and local ischemia may play a role in the pathophysiology of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, we investigated Kim-1 expression in a mouse model of this disease. In the Pkd2WS25/− mouse model for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, cystic kidneys show markedly upregulated Kim-1 levels compared with noncystic control kidneys. Kim-1 is present in a subset of cysts of different sizes and segmental origins and in clusters of proximal tubules near cysts. Kim-1-expressing tubular cells show decreased complexity and quantity of basolateral staining for Na-K-ATPase. Other changes in polarity characteristic of ischemic injury are not present in Kim-1-expressing pericystic tubules. Polycystin-2 expression is preserved in Kim-1-expressing tubules. The interstitium surrounding Kim-1-expressing tubules shows high proliferative activity and staining for smooth muscle α-actin, characteristic of myofibroblasts. Although the functional role of the protein in cysts remains unknown, Kim-1 expression in tubules is strongly associated with partial dedifferentiation of epithelial cells and may play a role in the development of interstitial fibrosis.

scholarly journals Autophagy in Chronic Kidney Diseases

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tien-An Lin ◽  
Victor Chien-Chia Wu ◽  
Chao-Yung Wang
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Polycystic Kidney ◽  
Recycling Process ◽  
Chronic Kidney Diseases ◽  
Tubular Cells ◽  
Proximal Tubular ◽  
Cellular Regeneration ◽  
Molecular Aspects

Autophagy is a cellular recycling process involving self-degradation and reconstruction of damaged organelles and proteins. Current evidence suggests that autophagy is critical in kidney physiology and homeostasis. In clinical studies, autophagy activations and inhibitions are linked to acute kidney injuries, chronic kidney diseases, diabetic nephropathies, and polycystic kidney diseases. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction, which are implicated as important mechanisms underlying many kidney diseases, modulate the autophagy activation and inhibition and lead to cellular recycling dysfunction. Abnormal autophagy function can induce loss of podocytes, damage proximal tubular cells, and glomerulosclerosis. After acute kidney injuries, activated autophagy protects tubular cells from apoptosis and enhances cellular regeneration. Patients with chronic kidney diseases have impaired autophagy that cannot be reversed by hemodialysis. Multiple nephrotoxic medications also alter the autophagy signaling, by which the mechanistic insights of the drugs are revealed, thus providing the unique opportunity to manage the nephrotoxicity of these drugs. In this review, we summarize the current concepts of autophagy and its molecular aspects in different kidney cells pathophysiology. We also discuss the current evidence of autophagy in acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, toxic effects of drugs, and aging kidneys. In addition, we examine therapeutic possibilities targeting the autophagy system in kidney diseases.

Mammalian target of rapamycin and the kidney. II. Pathophysiology and therapeutic implications

2012 ◽  
Vol 303 (2) ◽  
pp. F180-F191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilfred Lieberthal ◽  
Jerrold S. Levine
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin ◽  
Graft Function ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Cyst Formation ◽  
Renal Diseases ◽  
Therapeutic Implications ◽  
The Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Renal Regeneration

The mTOR pathway plays an important role in a number of common renal diseases, including acute kidney injury (AKI), diabetic nephropathy (DN), and polycystic kidney diseases (PKD). The activity of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) is necessary for renal regeneration and repair after AKI, and inhibition of mTORC1 by rapamycin has been shown to delay recovery from ischemic AKI in animal studies, and to prolong delayed graft function in humans who have received a kidney transplant. For this reason, administration of rapamycin should be delayed or discontinued in patients with AKI until full recovery of renal function has occurred. On the other hand, inappropriately high mTORC1 activity contributes to the progression of the metabolic syndrome, the development of type 2 diabetes, and the pathogenesis of DN. In addition, chronic hyperactivity of mTORC1, and possibly also mTORC2, contributes to cyst formation and enlargement in a number of forms of PKD. Inhibition of mTOR, using either rapamycin (which inhibits predominantly mTORC1) or “catalytic” inhibitors (which effectively inhibit both mTORC1 and mTORC2), provide exciting possibilities for novel forms of treatment of DN and PKD. In this second part of the review, we will examine the role of mTOR in the pathophysiology of DN and PKD, as well as the potential utility of currently available and newly developed inhibitors of mTOR to slow the progression of DN and/or PKD.

Targeting mammalian target of rapamycin: prospects for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naser-Aldin Lashgari ◽  
Nazanin Momeni Roudsari ◽  
Saeideh Momtaz ◽  
Negar Ghanaatian ◽  
Parichehr Kohansal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin ◽  
Mtor Pathway ◽  
Mtor Signaling ◽  
Target Of Rapamycin ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Mtor Signaling Pathway ◽  
Inflammatory Bowel

: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a general term for a group of chronic and progressive disorders. Several cellular and biomolecular pathways are implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD, yet the etiology is unclear. Activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in the intestinal epithelial cells was also shown to induce inflammation. This review focuses on the inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway and its potential application in treating IBD. We also provide an overview on plant-derived compounds that are beneficial for the IBD management through modulation of the mTOR pathway. Data were extracted from clinical, in vitro and in vivo studies published in English between 1995 and May 2019, which were collected from PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus and Cochrane library databases. Results of various studies implied that inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway downregulates the inflammatory processes and cytokines involved in IBD. In this context, a number of natural products might reverse the pathological features of the disease. Furthermore, mTOR provides a novel drug target for IBD. Comprehensive clinical studies are required to confirm the efficacy of mTOR inhibitors in treating IBD.

Minocycline inhibits mTOR signaling activation and alleviates behavioral deficits in the Wistar rats with acute ischemia stroke

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shengyuan Wang ◽  
Chuanling Wang ◽  
Lihua Wang ◽  
Zhiyou Cai
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Ischemia ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin ◽  
Mtor Signaling ◽  
Acute Ischemia ◽  
Intragastric Administration ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Signaling Activation ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Minocycline Therapy

Background: Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been evidenced as a multimodal therapy in the path-ophysiological process of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the pathway that minocycline targets mTOR signaling is not fully defined in the AIS pathogenesis. This study is to aim at the effects of minocycline on the mTOR signaling in the AIS process and further discover the underlying mechanisms of minocycline involved in the following change of mTOR signaling-autophagy. Methods: Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CIR) rat animal models were established with the transient suture occlusion into middle cerebral artery. Minocycline (50mg/kg) was given by intragastric administration. The Morris water maze was used to test the cognitive function of animals. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were introduced for testing the lev-els of synaptophysin and PSD-95. Western blot was conducted for investigating the levels of mTOR, p-mTOR (Ser2448), p70S6, p-p70S6 (Thr389), eEF2k, p-eEF2k (Ser366), p-eIF4B (Ser406), LC3, p62, synaptophysin and PSD-95. Results: Minocycline prevents cognitive decline of the MCAO stroke rats. Minocycline limits the expression of p-mTOR (Ser2448) and the downstream targets of mTOR [p70S6, p-p70S6 (Thr389), eEF2k, p-eEF2k (Ser366) and p-eIF4B (Ser406)] (P<0.01), while minocycline has no influence on mTOR. LC3-II abundance and the LC3-II/I ratio were upregu-lated in the hippocampus of the MCAO stroke rats by the minocycline therapy (P<0.01). p62 was downregulated in the hippocampus from the MCAO stroke rats administrated with minocycline therapy(P<0.01). The levels of SYP and PSD-95 were up-regulated in the brain of the MCAO stroke rats administrated with minocycline therapy. Conclusion: Minocycline prevents cognitive deficits via inhibiting mTOR signaling and enhancing autophagy process, and promoting the expression of pre-and postsynaptic proteins (synaptophysin and PSD-95) in the brain of the MCAO stroke rats. The potential neuroprotective role of minocycline in the process of cerebral ischemia may be related to mitigating is-chemia-induced synapse injury via inhibiting activation of mTOR signaling.

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