Constitutive activation of the mTOR signaling pathway within the normal glomerulus

► The mTOR signaling pathway is hyperactive within the normal renal glomerulus. ► Immunofluoresence staining identifies intense pmTOR expression selectively within podocytes. ► Targeting mTOR activity with rapamycin in vivo reduces mTOR signaling and local VEGF expression. ► Constitutive mTOR-induced responses in podocytes likely mediate glomerular homeostasis.