mTOR inhibition in COVID‐19: A commentary and review of efficacy in RNA viruses

Basil S. Karam, Rachel Morris, Carolyn T. Bramante, Michael A. Puskarich, Emily Zolfaghari, Sahar Lotfi‐Emran, Nicholas E. Ingraham, Anthony Charles, David J. Odde, Christopher J. Tignanelli

2020Journal of Medical Virology107 citationsDOI Open Access PDF

Abstract

In this commentary, we shed light on the role of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in viral infections. The mTOR pathway has been demonstrated to be modulated in numerous RNA viruses. Frequently, inhibiting mTOR results in suppression of virus growth and replication. Recent evidence points towards modulation of mTOR in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We discuss the current literature on mTOR in SARS-CoV-2 and highlight evidence in support of a role for mTOR inhibitors in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019.

Topics & Concepts

PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathwayVirologyCoronavirusCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)RNABiologyViral replicationSars virusSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Discovery and development of mTOR inhibitors2019-20 coronavirus outbreakVirusMedicineDiseaseSignal transductionInfectious disease (medical specialty)Cell biologyGeneGeneticsInternal medicineOutbreakSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchAnimal Virus Infections StudiesViral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology