The PDGF/PDGFR pathway as a drug target

Publication date: August 2018Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine, Volume 62Author(s): Natalia Papadopoulos, Johan LennartssonAbstractPlatelet-derived growth factors (PDGF) promotes cell proliferation, survival and migration, primarily of cells of mesenchymal origin. Dysfunction of PDGF signaling has been observed in a wide array of pathological conditions, such as cancer, fibrosis, neurological conditions and atherosclerosis. Reported abnormalities of the PDGF pathway include overexpression or amplification of PDGF receptors (PDGFRs), gain of function point mutations or activating chromosomal translocations. Current development of therapeutic drugs often aims at producing compounds that specifically target interaction between PDGFs and their receptors by specific DNA aptamers and ligand traps, or downregulate PDGFRs with blocking antibodies, or inhibit tyrosine kinase activity of PDGFRs with small molecules. In this review, we discuss some of the approaches taken to interfere with PDGF signaling, review a panel of existing therapeutic drugs, and consider clinically successful cases and remaining challenges.
Source: Molecular Aspects of Medicine - Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research