Loss of the Pten (phosphatase and tensin homolog) gene has been demonstrated to result in hyperactivation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, a signaling pathway common to many disease etiologies, including tuberous sclerosis complex, Fragile X syndrome, and schizophrenia.
On the other hand, administration of mTOR inhibitors may be beneficial for a variety of neuropsychiatric alterations encompassing neurodegeneration, brain tumors, brain ischemia, epilepsy, autism, mood disorders, drugs of abuse, and schizophrenia. mTOR has been widely implicated in synaptic plasticity and autophagy activation.
Although THC can accelerate the onset of schizophrenia, CBD displays antipsychotic properties, can prevent the acquisition of emotionally irrelevant memories, and reverses amphetamine-induced neuronal sensitization through selective phosphorylation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) molecular signaling pathway.
These observations suggest that recruitment of mTOR by prefrontal 5-HT(6) receptors contributes to the perturbed cognition in schizophrenia, offering new vistas for its therapeutic control.