Maruta H, He H. PAK1-blockers: Potential Therapeutics against COVID-19.
MEDICINE IN DRUG DISCOVERY 2020;
6:100039. [PMID:
32313880 PMCID:
PMC7166201 DOI:
10.1016/j.medidd.2020.100039]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
PAK1 (RAC/CDC42-activated kinase 1) is the major “pathogenic” kinase whose abnormal activation causes a wide variety of diseases/disorders including cancers, inflammation, malaria and pandemic viral infection including influenza, HIV and COVID-19. Since Louis Pasteur who developed a vaccine against rabies in 1885, in general a series of “specific” vaccines have been used for treatment of viral infection, mainly because the majority of pre-existing antibiotics are either anti-bacterial or anti-fungal, thereby being ineffective against viruses in general. However, it takes 12–18 months till the effective vaccine becomes available. Until then ventilator (O2 supplier) would be the most common tool for saving the life of COVID-19 patients. Thus, as alternative potentially more direct “broad-spectrum” signalling mechanism–based COVID-19 therapeutics, several natural and synthetic PAK1-blockers such as propolis, melatonin, ciclesonide, hydroxy chloroquine (HQ), ivermection, and ketorolac, which are readily available in the market, are introduced here.
PAK1 is the major “pathogenic “kinase essential for infection of many viruses including COVID-19.
Several PAK1-blockers such as propolis, melatonin, anti-malaria drugs, ivermectin, cicloresonide and ketorolac are readily available in the market.
PAK1-blockers, interfering with the pathogenic process as well as promoting immune system, could serve as potential therapeutic agents against COVID-19.
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