Integrin-linked kinase

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that plays a crucial role in cell adhesion, cell signaling, and various cellular processes. It is involved in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and survival. ILK interacts with integrins and other proteins to form focal adhesion complexes, linking the extracellular matrix to the intracellular signaling machinery. Dysregulation of ILK activity has been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, including various cancers (hepatocellular carcinoma, salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, oral squamous cell carcinoma, ovarian cancer), cardiac hypertrophy, ankylosing spondylitis, obesity-related metabolic syndrome, kidney diseases (glomerulopathy, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract), ulcerative colitis, and processes like scar formation and melanogenesis. Its modulation is being investigated as a potential therapeutic strategy for these conditions.