mTOR signaling pathway in primary Sjögren's syndrome: Pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets (Review)

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that can progress from asymptomatic glandular involvement to systemic manifestations affecting multiple organs, thereby imposing a notable economic burden on both patients and society. The pathogenesis of pSS is complex and involves multifactorial interactions between genetic, environmental and immune components. Although pSS is a common rheumatic disease, current therapeutic approaches primarily focus on symptom management and no curative treatment is available. Therefore, it is key to identify novel and effective therapeutic strategies for affected individuals. The mTOR signaling pathway is a key regulatory pathway in numerous types of cell, playing a crucial role in immune regulation, inflammation and autophagy. Activation of this pathway can promote inflammation by inducing immune dysregulation, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of pSS. Conversely, inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway mitigates these pathological processes and may help alleviate disease severity. Thus, the mTOR signaling pathway represents a promising therapeutic target for pSS. The present review aimed to elucidate the role and underlying mechanisms of the mTOR signaling pathway in pSS and provide a theoretical foundation for developing targeted therapeutic interventions.