More TOR: The expanding role of mTOR in regulating immune responses

Abstract

The mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an evolutionarily conserved multi-node signaling pathway that integrates critical environmental cues to control cellular growth. Decades worth of studies have intricately dissected the mTOR pathway to identify regulatory signals that are essential for regulating immune cell activation, differentiation, and function. As the mTOR field continues to evolve, so too does our understanding of these new findings in immune cells. Our group and others have previously reviewed the role of mTOR in regulating specific immune responses. Here, we provide an updated review of our current understanding of mTOR’s comprehensive role in immune cell biology. In addition, we offer emerging ideas and areas of investigation where mTOR might be further explored and impactfully targeted to improve overall human health given mTOR’s prominent role in aging and cancer.