GSK-3 Inhibitors: Recent Developments and Therapeutic Potential
September 2008
in “
Current signal transduction therapy
”
Studysummary This article reviews the role of glycogen synthase kinase-3 in various diseases and recent developments in GSK-3 inhibitors, without reporting any new clinical findings. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) was identified in the late 1970s and exists in two isoforms, GSK-3α and GSK-3β, which share high sequence identity. GSK-3 is involved in various cellular functions and has been linked to diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, bipolar disorder, cancer, alopecia, schizophrenia, and circadian rhythm disorders. Due to its role in these diseases, significant efforts have been made to develop selective GSK-3 inhibitors. These inhibitors have shown promising pharmacological effects in cell-based assays and animal models, highlighting their potential as therapeutic agents. The article reviewed the molecular and pharmacological properties of GSK-3, its role in disease pathophysiology, and recent advancements in GSK-3 inhibitor development.
