title: [Role of the mTOR pathway in the central regulation of energy balance].
abstract: The pathway of the mammalian (or mechanistic) target of rapamycin kinase (mTOR) responds to different signals such as nutrients and hormones and regulates many cellular functions as the synthesis of proteins and lipids, mitochondrial activity and the organization of the cytoskeleton. At the cellular level, mTOR forms two distinct complexes: mTORC1 and mTORC2. This review intends to summarize the various recent advances on the role of these two protein complexes in the central regulation of energy balance. mTORC1 activity modulates energy balance and metabolic responses by regulating the activity of neuronal populations, such as those located in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Recent studies have shown that activity of the hypothalamic mTORC1 pathway varies according to cell and stimulus types, and that this signaling cascade regulates food intake and body weight in response to nutrients, such as leucine, and hormones like leptin, ghrelin and triiodothyronine. On the other hand, mTORC2 seems to be involved in the regulation of neuronal morphology and synaptic activity. However, its function in the central regulation of the energy balance is less known. Dysregulation of mTORC1 and mTORC2 is described in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of energy balance by mTOR may lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of these metabolic pathologies.
authors.affiliation: Service Endocrinologie, Hôpital Haut Lévêque, CHU Bordeaux, 33600 Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Magalie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haissaguerre
authors.affiliation: INSERM, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, U1215, 33000 Bordeaux, France - Université de Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Physiopathologie de la Plasticité Neuronale, U1215, 33000 Bordeaux, France.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cota
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology; D007328:Insulin / Q000502:physiology; D020738:Leptin / Q000502:physiology; D000076222:Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1; D000076225:Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 2; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000502:physiology*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D000076222:Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1; D000076225:Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 2; D058570:TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases