Multiple cytokine and growth factor receptors and downstream signaling pathways

The term Multiple cytokine and growth factor receptors and downstream signaling pathways refers to a broad and interconnected network of biological molecules rather than a single molecular target. This network encompasses various cell surface receptors, including those for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), as well as the intracellular signaling cascades they activate, such as the SMAD, MAPK/ERK, and PI3K/Akt pathways (Source: NIH, StatPearls). These pathways are fundamental to regulating cell growth, survival, and the inflammatory response (Source: UniProt). In pathological states like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and many cancers, these pathways are often chronically activated, leading to excessive tissue scarring or tumor progression (Source: PubMed, PMC4267545). Drugs like pirfenidone and nintedanib target this broad network to achieve therapeutic effects by simultaneously inhibiting multiple nodes of signaling, which helps to overcome the biological redundancy that often leads to drug resistance (Source: FDA, Esbriet and Ofev Prescribing Information). Consequently, this target group represents a strategy of polypharmacology where the collective modulation of several pathways is required for clinical efficacy (Source: Nature Reviews Drug Discovery).

Other names

Multi-target signaling networkCytokine and growth factor signaling pathwaysPleiotropic signaling targetsGrowth factor and cytokine signaling network

Simultaneous inhibition or modulation of multiple cell surface receptors (such as VEGFR, PDGFR, and FGFR) and their associated intracellular signaling cascades (such as the MAPK and PI3K pathways) to disrupt complex disease processes.