Vertical inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling demonstrates in vitro and in vivo anti-fibrotic activity

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) regulates cellular activity in many diseases, but the complex interplay with PI3K/Akt pathway may hampers its function.This study was undertaken to determine the activity of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling in the fibroblasts from systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, and compare the effects of vertical inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR by BEZ235 and inhibiting mTOR alone by rapamycin in fibroblast activation and in two...