The PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway is activated in murine lupus nephritis and downregulated by rapamycin

摘要

Background. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, rapamycin, has been shown to inhibit the progression of murine lupus nephritis by virtue of its potent immunosuppressive properties. The phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway is a major upstream activator of mTOR and has been implicated in the propagation of cancer and autoimmunity. However, the activation status of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in lupus nephritis has not been studied so far.