Cellular Mechanisms of Aging & Disease - Part 1: mTOR Inhibitors

Part 1 of the segment on Cellular Mechanisims of Aging and Disease deals with the cellular influence of the mTOR biochemical pathway. mTOR stands for “mechanistic (gene) Target Of Rapamycin”. Rapamycin is a protein kinase that was discovered in the soil of Easter Island in the 1970’s. It is produced by a Streptomycin Bacterium.

mTOR is a protein that is responsible for cell metabolism, growth and proliferation. The reason that this protein is the “target” of Rapamycin, is because Rapamycin has been found to stimulate the action of the mTOR protein. This action thereby dampens the Immune systems responses in the human body and it gained popularity as an agent to prevent organ rejection on transplantation.

mTOR is a necessary part of the human cellular renewal process when it is in homeostatic balance with the energy management of our systems. However, when our life style and diet are not in harmony with our biochemical needs, mTOR becomes dysregulated and initiates the disease pathologies of Cancer, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, etc. as well as typical age related decline. mTOR literally becomes the purveyor and initiator of aging and disease when it becomes over or under expressed (out of balance). mTOR is more often overexpressed as opposed to under expressed due to our life style and diet, and therefore is most often brought into balance by mTOR inhibitors rather than mTOR stimulators.

mTOR is a necessary part of the human cellular renewal process when it is in homeostatic balance with the energy management of our systems. However, when our life style and diet are not in harmony with our biochemical needs, mTOR becomes dysregulated and initiates the disease pathologies of Cancer, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, etc. as well as typical age related decline. mTOR literally becomes the purveyor and initiator of aging and disease when it becomes over or under expressed (out of balance). mTOR is more often overexpressed as opposed to under expressed due to our life style and diet, and therefore is most often brought into balance by mTOR inhibitors rather than mTOR stimulators.

Article referenced (with link): "mTOR inhibitors in cancer, health and aging" by Dr. Marios Kyriazis. Aging Matters Magazine, Issue 3, 2015.