Kinases as drug targets in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is one of the most severely debilitating of all medical illnesses, and is increasingly recognized as a major public health problem. For many patients with bipolar disorder, current pharmacotherapy is insufficient. Exciting recent data suggest that regulation of signaling molecules may be involved in the pathophysiology of the disorder, and in the mechanisms of action of mood stabilizers and antidepressants. Through our developing understanding of the biochemical targets of effective medications, several potential targets for new therapies have emerged. This short review will focus on two of the most promising such targets: glycogen synthase-3 and protein kinase C.
Catapano
Lisa A
LA
Laboratory of Molecular Pathophysiology, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, HHS, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Manji
Husseini K
HK
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3