mTOR is a key modulator of ageing and age-related disease

Simon C Johnson, Peter S Rabinovitch, Matt Kaeberlein

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1319 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Many experts in the biology of ageing believe that pharmacological interventions to slow ageing are a matter of 'when' rather than 'if'. A leading target for such interventions is the nutrient response pathway defined by the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). Inhibition of this pathway extends lifespan in model organisms and confers protection against a growing list of age-related pathologies. Characterized inhibitors of this pathway are already clinically approved, and others are under development. Although adverse side effects currently preclude use in otherwise healthy individuals, drugs that target the mTOR pathway could one day become widely used to slow ageing and reduce age-related pathologies in humans.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)338-45
Number of pages8
JournalNature
Volume493
Issue number7432
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Jan 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aging/metabolism
  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Insulin/metabolism
  • Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/metabolism
  • Longevity/genetics
  • Signal Transduction
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism

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