Activation of mTORC2 Boosts Autophagy and Improves Cardiac Function in Old Flies

The activities of mTOR are well researched, given that mTOR inhibition slows aging in a number of species. This is one of the more prominent areas of research and development to emerge from the study of beneficial stress responses such as that produced by the practice of calorie restriction. The mTOR protein participates in cellular metabolism through a pair of protein complexes, and much of the work to date has focused on the protein complex mTORC1 rather than mTORC2. The present consensus (though not unchallenged) is that general inhibition of mTOR, such as via the use of rapamycin, is problematic because harmful effects arise from inhibition of mTORC2, offsetting the benefits due to inhibition of mTORC1. Certainly, it is the case that inhibiting mTORC2 alone shortens lifespan in laboratory animals, while inhibiting mTORC1 alone slows aging and extends life. Thus the development of drugs based on this research has focused on specific inhibition of mTORC1; several companies have a pipeline of small molecule therapies in later stage trials. Researchers here show that increased mTORC2 activity boosts autophagy and improves cardiac function in middle-aged flies, suggesting that the current industry of mTORC1 inhibition will soon enough be joined by an industry of mTORC2 upregulation. I remain unconvinced that the effect sizes in humans resulting from upregulated autophagy will be large enough to merit the strong focus placed on this line of research and developmen...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs