Exploring the role of mTOR pathway in aging and age-related disorders

Authors

  • Komal Raghuvanshi School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan 173229, Himachal Pradesh, India https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3483-6799
  • Disha Raghuvanshi School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan 173229, Himachal Pradesh, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8896-6106
  • Dinesh Kumar School of Bioengineering and Food Technology, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan 173229, Himachal Pradesh, India; Center of Advanced Innovation Technologies, VSB- Technical University of Ostrava, 70800, Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3409-3666
  • Eugenie Nepovimova Center of Advanced Innovation Technologies, VSB- Technical University of Ostrava, 70800, Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Hradec Kralove, 50005 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0281-246X
  • Marian Valko Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, 812 37, Bratislava, Slovakia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7483-0267
  • Kamil Kuca University of Hradec Kralove, 50005 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. E-mail: kamil.kuca@uhk.cz https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9664-1109
  • Rachna Verma School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences, Solan 173229, India. E-mail: rachnac83@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5321-9450

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2025-8384

Keywords:

Aging, mTOR, mTOR inhibitors, rapamycin, anti-aging interventions

Abstract

Aging is a highly intricate biochemical process. There is strong evidence suggesting that organismal aging, age-dependent diseases, and cellular senescence are related to the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. The signaling pathway of mTOR has become a prominent regulatory hub, managing crucial cellular activities that significantly affect lifespan and longevity. The mTOR is involved in controlling cell growth and metabolism in response to both internal and external energy signals as well as growth factors. The interaction between mTOR and cellular homeostasis is crucial in the aging process. This extensive review summarizes the most recent findings on mTOR inhibitors in the context of aging, highlighting their complex interactions with cellular systems, effect on longevity, and potential as therapeutic approaches for age-related diseases. Rapamycin and rapalogs (analogs of rapamycin), which have been proven to be effective mTOR inhibitors, have the ability to reduce the aging process in several model species while also enhancing metabolic health and stress responses. Despite cellular factors, mTOR inhibitors have revealed a potential path for therapeutics in age-related illnesses. These results suggest mTOR inhibitors as potential therapies to address the complex aspects of age-related diseases. However, obstacles stand in the way of clinical translation. Further research is required to improve dosing protocols, reduce potential side effects, and target mTOR inhibitors precisely at specific tissues. In summary, the mTOR signaling pathway is an important node in the intricate web of aging and its associated disorders.

Published

2025-08-04

How to Cite

Raghuvanshi, K., Raghuvanshi, D., Kumar, D., Nepovimova, E., Valko, M., Kuca, K., & Verma, R. (2025). Exploring the role of mTOR pathway in aging and age-related disorders. EXCLI Journal, 24, 992–1015. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2025-8384

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