Longevity & AgingmTOR-Driven IL-6 Triggers Lung Cell Senescence and Blocks Repair in Rare Disease
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare progressive lung disease driven by TSC2-deficient cells with hyperactive mTOR signaling. This study reveals that LAM cells secrete IL-6 in an mTOR-dependent manner, which induces senescence in alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells—the lung's resident stem cells responsible for repair. Senescence markers p16 and p21 were elevated in LAM lungs and co-localized with AT2 cells, while IL-6 levels correlated with lung function decline. The IL-6 receptor blocker Tocilizumab, alongside the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin, reduced AT2 senescence and improved epithelial wound repair in laboratory models, suggesting a new dual-therapy strategy for LAM.
