mTOR, also known as the mammalian target of rapamycin, is a serine/threonine kinase. It is a master regulator of cellular metabolism, integrating upstream nutrient signals. mTOR is a key component in pathways like the PI3K/Akt pathway, crucial for regulating fundamental cellular functions such as cell growth, proliferation, survival, and autophagy [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9]. Genetic models, especially KO/CKO mouse models, are valuable in studying mTOR's functions.

In various diseases, mTOR shows distinct roles. In cancer, its activation is frequent, controlling cell growth and metabolism, with metabolic inputs in turn activating mTOR [2]. In kidney diseases, under normal conditions, mTOR signaling maintains cell homeostasis, but its constitutive activation leads to diseases like glomerular hypertrophy and renal cell carcinoma [3]. In diabetes, mTOR has both anti-and pro-diabetic effects, influencing β-cell function and immune cell metabolism [5]. In corneal diseases, mTOR activation contributes to pathogenesis, and its inhibition shows promise [9].

In conclusion, mTOR is a pivotal regulator in cellular metabolism and numerous biological processes. Studies using KO/CKO mouse models have revealed its significance in diseases such as cancer, kidney diseases, diabetes, and corneal diseases. Understanding mTOR's functions through these models provides insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies.

References:

1. Kim, Young Chul, Guan, Kun-Liang. 2015. mTOR: a pharmacologic target for autophagy regulation. In The Journal of clinical investigation, 125, 25-32. doi:10.1172/JCI73939. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25654547/

2. Mossmann, Dirk, Park, Sujin, Hall, Michael N. . mTOR signalling and cellular metabolism are mutual determinants in cancer. In Nature reviews. Cancer, 18, 744-757. doi:10.1038/s41568-018-0074-8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30425336/

3. Gui, Yuan, Dai, Chunsun. 2020. mTOR Signaling in Kidney Diseases. In Kidney360, 1, 1319-1327. doi:10.34067/KID.0003782020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35372878/

4. Gargalionis, Antonios N, Papavassiliou, Kostas A, Basdra, Efthimia K, Papavassiliou, Athanasios G. 2022. mTOR Signaling Components in Tumor Mechanobiology. In International journal of molecular sciences, 23, . doi:10.3390/ijms23031825. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35163745/

5. Tuo, Yali, Xiang, Ming. 2018. mTOR: A double-edged sword for diabetes. In Journal of leukocyte biology, 106, 385-395. doi:10.1002/JLB.3MR0317-095RR. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29578634/

6. Wang, Xuemin, Proud, Christopher G. . The mTOR pathway in the control of protein synthesis. In Physiology (Bethesda, Md.), 21, 362-9. doi:. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16990457/

7. Liu, Xuejia, Guo, Bin, Li, Qiye, Nie, Jing. 2024. mTOR in metabolic homeostasis and disease. In Experimental cell research, 441, 114173. doi:10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.114173. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39047807/

8. Marafie, Sulaiman K, Al-Mulla, Fahd, Abubaker, Jehad. 2024. mTOR: Its Critical Role in Metabolic Diseases, Cancer, and the Aging Process. In International journal of molecular sciences, 25, . doi:10.3390/ijms25116141. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38892329/

9. Li, Xiang, Chen, Kuangqi, Wang, Zixi, Tong, Jianping, Shen, Ye. 2023. The mTOR signalling in corneal diseases: A recent update. In Biochemical pharmacology, 213, 115620. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115620. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37217140/