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Mimicking the Function of Signaling Proteins: Toward Artificial Signal Transduction Therapy
12:24

Mimicking the Function of Signaling Proteins: Toward Artificial Signal Transduction Therapy

Published on: September 29, 2016

Signal-transduction therapy. A novel approach to disease management

A Levitzki1

  • 1Department of Biological Chemistry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.

European Journal of Biochemistry
|November 15, 1994
PubMed

Insights

New drugs that block cell signaling pathways show promise for treating diseases like cancer and inflammatory conditions. These signal interceptors offer novel therapeutic strategies for various proliferative and inflammatory disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Pharmacology
  • Disease Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Aberrations in cell signaling pathways are implicated in numerous diseases, including cancers, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis, and tissue rejection.
  • This understanding has shifted medical research towards developing drugs that intercept these aberrant signaling pathways for disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the emerging success of signal interceptors in disease management.
  • To discuss the utility of these agents in analyzing signal-transduction pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on signal interceptors.
  • Discussion of various classes of signal interceptors, including tyrosine kinase blockers, protein kinase C blockers, Ras blockers, Ca2+ signaling inhibitors, and estrogen antagonists.

Main Results:

  • Signal interceptors, particularly tyrosine kinase blockers, demonstrate efficacy in inhibiting cancer cell growth both in vitro and in vivo.
  • These agents also show potential in blocking inflammatory responses and the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and psoriatic keratinocytes.

Conclusions:

  • Signal interceptors represent a promising therapeutic strategy for a range of proliferative and inflammatory diseases.
  • Further research into signal interceptors can aid in dissecting complex signal-transduction pathways.

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