First demonstration of the effectiveness of inhibitors of cellular protein kinases in antiviral therapy.
Viral replication and pathogenesis involves many cellular protein kinases, and many specific inhibitors of such kinase have been developed for the treatment of noninfectious diseases. As expected, such drugs have been repeatedly demonstrated to inhibit viral replication in cultured cells. Cellular protein kinases have thus been considered for several years as potentially valid targets for antiviral therapy. However, until recently there was no proof of such activity in vivo. The three papers discussed herein demonstrate that inhibitors of cellular protein kinases are indeed effective for the treatment of virus-induced disease in animal models and human clinical trials.
Schang
Luis M
LM
University of Alberta, Department of Biochemistry, 315C Heritage Medical Research Center, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. luis.schang@ualberta.ca
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D051379:Mice; D010879:Piperazines / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011212:Poxviridae / Q000187:drug effects; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001549:Benzamides; D010879:Piperazines; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases