P21-activated kinase in inflammatory and cardiovascular disease

Cell Signal. 2014 Sep;26(9):2060-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2014.04.020. Epub 2014 May 2.

Abstract

P-21 activated kinases, or PAKs, are serine-threonine kinases that serve a role in diverse biological functions and organ system diseases. Although PAK signaling has been the focus of many investigations, still our understanding of the role of PAK in inflammation is incomplete. This review consolidates what is known about PAK1 across several cell types, highlighting the role of PAK1 and PAK2 in inflammation in relation to NADPH oxidase activation. This review explores the physiological functions of PAK during inflammation, the role of PAK in several organ diseases with an emphasis on cardiovascular disease, and the PAK signaling pathway, including activators and targets of PAK. Also, we discuss PAK1 as a pharmacological anti-inflammatory target, explore the potentials and the limitations of the current pharmacological tools to regulate PAK1 activity during inflammation, and provide indications for future research. We conclude that a vast amount of evidence supports the idea that PAK is a central molecule in inflammatory signaling, thus making PAK1 itself a promising prospective pharmacological target.

Keywords: Cardiac; Cell migration; Cytoskeletal dynamics; NADPH oxidase; PAK1; PAK2.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cardiovascular Diseases / metabolism
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / pathology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • NADPH Oxidases / metabolism
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products
  • Receptors, Immunologic / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • p21-Activated Kinases / chemistry
  • p21-Activated Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • NADPH Oxidases
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • p21-Activated Kinases