A multi‐organ analysis of the role of mTOR in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders

AL Carabulea, JD Janeski, VD Naik, K Chen… - The FASEB …, 2023 - Wiley Online Library
AL Carabulea, JD Janeski, VD Naik, K Chen, G Mor, J Ramadoss
The FASEB Journal, 2023Wiley Online Library
Alcohol exposure during gestation can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), an
array of cognitive and physical developmental impairments. Over the past two and a half
decades, Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) has emerged at the nexus of many
fields of study, and has recently been implicated in FASD etiology. mTOR plays an integral
role in modulating anabolic and catabolic activities, including protein synthesis and
autophagy. These processes are vital for proper development and can have long lasting …
Abstract
Alcohol exposure during gestation can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), an array of cognitive and physical developmental impairments. Over the past two and a half decades, Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) has emerged at the nexus of many fields of study, and has recently been implicated in FASD etiology. mTOR plays an integral role in modulating anabolic and catabolic activities, including protein synthesis and autophagy. These processes are vital for proper development and can have long lasting effects following alcohol exposure, such as impaired hippocampal and synapse formation, reduced brain size, as well as cognitive, behavioral, and memory impairments. We highlight recent advances in the field of FASD, primarily with regard to animal model discoveries and discuss the interaction between alcohol and mTOR in the context of various tissues, including brain, placenta, bone, and muscle, with respect to developmental alcohol exposure paradigms. The current review focuses on novel FASD research within the context of the mTOR signaling and sheds light on mechanistic etiologies at various biological levels including molecular, cellular, and functional, across multiple stages of development and illuminates the dichotomy between the different mTOR complexes and their unique signaling roles.
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