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Combating Human Pathogens and Cancer by Targeting Phosphoinositides and Their Metabolism

Thanh Kha Phan1, Guneet K Bindra1, Scott A Williams1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.

Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
|November 4, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Phosphoinositides are key targets for pathogens and tumors. Directly targeting these lipids offers novel therapeutic strategies against infections and cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Pathogens and tumor cells evade immune surveillance by hijacking host cell machinery.
  • Phosphoinositide lipids and their modifying enzymes are crucial for pathogen virulence and tumor progression.
  • These lipids represent common vulnerabilities exploitable for therapeutic intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of phosphoinositides in pathogen virulence and tumorigenesis.
  • To discuss the potential and challenges of phosphoinositide-targeting drug development.
  • To explore novel therapeutic strategies, including direct phosphoinositide targeting.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of phosphoinositide roles in disease.
  • Analysis of existing and emerging phosphoinositide-targeting drugs.
  • Discussion of therapeutic strategies and future perspectives.

Main Results:

  • Phosphoinositides are essential for both pathogen survival and tumor growth.
  • Inhibiting phosphoinositide-metabolizing enzymes shows therapeutic promise.
  • Directly targeting phosphoinositides is an emerging and promising strategy.

Conclusions:

  • Phosphoinositides are critical nodes in pathogen and tumor biology.
  • Targeting phosphoinositides offers a viable strategy for combinatorial therapeutics.
  • Further research into phosphoinositide-targeting drugs is warranted for novel disease treatments.
Keywords:
MLKLanticancerantimicrobialcancerdefensingasderminhost–pathogen interactioninfectionneomycinphosphoinositide

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