The Akt-mTOR Pathway in Down’s Syndrome: The Potential Use of Rapamycin/Rapalogs for Treating Cognitive Deficits

Title:The Akt-mTOR Pathway in Down’s Syndrome: The Potential Use of Rapamycin/Rapalogs for Treating Cognitive Deficits

Volume: 13 Issue: 1

Author(s): Jose Antonio Troca-Marin, Juan Jose Casanas, Itziar Benito and Maria Luz Montesinos

Affiliation:

Keywords: Akt, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Down’s syndrome, local translation, mammalian Target of Rapamycin, rapamycin, trisomy 21, Ts1Cje.

Abstract: An increasing amount of evidence suggests that the dysregulation of the Akt-mTOR (Akt-mammalian Target Of Rapamycin) signaling network is associated with intellectual disabilities, such as fragile X, tuberous sclerosis and Rett’s syndrome. The Akt-mTOR pathway is involved in dendrite morphogenesis and synaptic plasticity, and it has been shown to modulate both glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission. We have recently shown that the AktmTOR pathway is hyperactive in the hippocampus of Ts1Cje mice, a model of Down’s syndrome, leading to increased local dendritic translation that could interfere with synaptic plasticity. Rapamycin and rapalogs are specific inhibitors of mTOR, and some of these inhibitors are Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs. In this review, we discuss the molecular basis and consequences of Akt-mTOR hyperactivation in Down’s syndrome, paying close attention to alterations in the molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity. We also analyze the pros and cons of using rapamycin/rapalogs for the treatment of the cognitive impairments associated with this condition.

Cite this article as:

Troca-Marin Antonio Jose, Casanas Jose Juan, Benito Itziar and Montesinos Luz Maria, The Akt-mTOR Pathway in Down’s Syndrome: The Potential Use of Rapamycin/Rapalogs for Treating Cognitive Deficits, CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets 2014; 13 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/18715273113126660184