title: mTOR as a multifunctional therapeutic target in HIV infection.
abstract: Patients undergoing long-term highly active antiretroviral therapy treatment are probably at a higher risk of various HIV-related complications. Hyperactivation of The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) has been found to contribute to dysregulated apoptosis and autophagy which determine CD4(+)-T-cell loss, impaired function of innate immunity and development of neurocognitive disorders. Dysregulated mTOR activation has also been shown to play a key part in the development of nephropathy and in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated malignancies. These studies strongly support a multifunctional key role for mTOR in the pathogenesis of HIV-related disorders and suggest that specific mTOR inhibitors could represent a novel approach for the prevention and treatment of these pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Italy. ferdinic@unict.it
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fagone
authors.forename: PierLuigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meroni
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCubrey
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bendtzen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods; D017209:Apoptosis; D001343:Autophagy; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases