Abstract
P21-activated kinases (PAKs) are serine/threonine kinases involved in the regulation of cell survival, proliferation, inhibition of apoptosis, and the regulation of cell morphology. Some members of the PAK family are highly expressed in several types of cancer, and they have also been implicated in several other medical disorders. They are thus considered to be good targets for treatment of cancer and other diseases. Although there are several inhibitors of the PAKs, the utility of some of these inhibitors is reduced for several reasons, including limited metabolic stability. One way to overcome this problem is the use of nanoparticles, which have the potential to increase drug delivery. The overall goals of this review are to describe the roles for PAK kinases in cell signaling and disease, and to describe how the use of nanomedicine is a promising new method for administering PAK inhibitors for the purpose of disease treatment and research. We discuss some of the basic mechanisms behind nanomedicine technology, and we then describe how these techniques are being used to package and deliver PAK inhibitors.
Highlights
IntroductionCancer can result from uncontrolled cell division, which can lead to the production of immature cells
Improper cell function can result in numerous disorders
We focus on the roles of the P21-activated kinases (PAKs) kinases in disease, different inhibitors that have been generated against the PAKs, and the new use of nanomedicine to optimize delivery of PAK kinases
Summary
Cancer can result from uncontrolled cell division, which can lead to the production of immature cells. These cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymphatic systems. In addition to uncontrolled cell growth regulation and cancer, disrupted cell function can cause other disorders, such as vascular disease, diabetes, and hemophilia. Various treatments have been developed for disorders of cell growth and function, targeted therapy is especially promising. The PAK kinases have important roles in cell growth, survival, and migration, and are often considered to be good targets for disease treatment. In addition to having important roles in normal cells, the PAKs are often improperly expressed in cancer and other diseases. We focus on the roles of the PAK kinases in disease, different inhibitors that have been generated against the PAKs, and the new use of nanomedicine to optimize delivery of PAK kinases
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