Review of mTOR signalling in T-cell fate decisions.
| Evidence tier | D Mechanistic / in vitro / review |
| Study type | Narrative Review |
| Model system | Review |
| Journal | Nature reviews. Immunology |
| Year | 2012 |
| Peer reviewed | Yes |
| Source | DOI 10.1038/nri3198 · PMID 22517423 · Free full text (PMC3417069) |
The evolutionarily conserved kinase mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) couples cell growth and metabolism to environmental inputs in eukaryotes. T cells depend on mTOR signalling to integrate immune signals and metabolic cues for their proper maintenance and activation. Under steady-state conditions, mTOR is actively controlled by multiple inhibitory mechanisms, and this enforces normal T cell homeostasis. Antigen recognition by naive CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells triggers mTOR activation, which in turn programmes the differentiation of these cells into functionally distinct lineages. This Review focuses on the signalling mechanisms of mTOR in T cell homeostatic and functional fates, and discusses the therapeutic implications of targeting mTOR in T cells.
| Intervention | Not applicable (review) |
| Target | mTOR / mTORC1 & mTORC2 |
| Model | Review |
| Effect | mTOR integrates immune and metabolic cues to program T-cell homeostasis, activation and differentiation |