Glycogen synthase kinase 3β as a target for the therapy of shock and inflammation

L Dugo, M Collin, C Thiemermann - Shock, 2007 - journals.lww.com
Shock, 2007journals.lww.com
After the discovery that glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3β plays a fundamental role in the
regulation of the activity of nuclear factor κB, a number of studies have investigated the
effects of this protein kinase in the regulation of the inflammatory process. The GSK-3β
inhibition, using genetically modified cells and chemically different pharmacological
inhibitors, affects the regulation of various inflammatory mediators in vitro and in vivo.
Insulin, an endogenous inhibitor of GSK-3 in the pathway leading to the regulation of …
Abstract
After the discovery that glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3β plays a fundamental role in the regulation of the activity of nuclear factor κB, a number of studies have investigated the effects of this protein kinase in the regulation of the inflammatory process. The GSK-3β inhibition, using genetically modified cells and chemically different pharmacological inhibitors, affects the regulation of various inflammatory mediators in vitro and in vivo. Insulin, an endogenous inhibitor of GSK-3 in the pathway leading to the regulation of glycogen synthase activity, has recently been clinically used in the therapy for septic shock. The beneficial anti-inflammatory effects of insulin in preclinical and clinical studies could possibly be due, at least in part, to the inhibition of GSK-3 and not directly correlated to the regulation of blood glucose. We describe the latest studies describing the effects of GSK-3 inhibition as potential target of the therapy for diseases associated with inflammation, ischemia/reperfusion, and shock.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins