Host kinases involved in viral replication

Host kinases involved in viral replication are cellular enzymes that viruses exploit to facilitate their life cycle, including entry, genome replication, and egress (Garcia-Blanco et al., Nature, 2004). Because viruses have limited genomes, they rely heavily on host signaling pathways, such as the Raf/MEK/ERK or PI3K/Akt pathways, to create a cellular environment conducive to infection (Pleschka et al., Nature Cell Biology, 2001). Targeting these host factors rather than viral proteins is an emerging therapeutic strategy designed to provide broad-spectrum activity and reduce the likelihood of viral resistance, as host genes mutate much slower than viral ones. For instance, MEK inhibitors like zapnometinib are being investigated for treating influenza by blocking the nuclear export of viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (Haasbach et al., Antiviral Research, 2017). Additionally, JAK inhibitors like baricitinib have been employed in viral infections to modulate the host immune response and potentially interfere with endocytosis (Richardson et al., The Lancet, 2020). However, since these kinases also perform essential physiological functions, achieving a therapeutic window that minimizes host toxicity remains a significant challenge in drug development.

Other names

Host cell kinasesProviral host kinasesHost-dependent viral factorsViral-supportive host kinases

Inhibition of host-cell signaling pathways (such as MAPK/ERK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and JAK/STAT) that are essential for various stages of the viral life cycle, including entry, genome replication, assembly, and egress (Pleschka et al., Nature Cell Biology, 2001). By blocking these hijacked cellular processes, these drugs suppress viral propagation and can also mitigate the hyper-inflammatory 'cytokine storm' often associated with severe viral infections (Richardson et al., The Lancet, 2020).