Drug development targeting the glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta)-mediated signal transduction pathway: inhibitors of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway as novel anticancer drugs

J Pharmacol Sci. 2009 Feb;109(2):179-83. doi: 10.1254/jphs.08r28fm. Epub 2009 Jan 29.

Abstract

Accumulating evidence suggests that the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is often involved in oncogenesis and cancer development. Accordingly, a novel anticancer drug can be developed using inhibitors of this pathway. However, at present, there is no selective inhibitor of this pathway available as a therapeutic agent. Although all the components of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway can be a target for drug development, glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta), in particular, may be a good target because GSK-3beta is an essential component of the pathway, and activation of this kinase results in the inhibition of the Wnt signaling pathway. We found that the differentiation-inducing factors (DIFs), putative morphogens for Dictyostelium discoideum, inhibit the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway via the activation of GSK-3beta, resulting in the cell-cycle arrest of human cancer cell lines. In this review, we summarize our recent findings on the antiproliferative effect of DIFs and show the possibility for development of a novel anticancer drug from DIFs and their derivatives.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cyclin D1 / metabolism
  • Cyclin D1 / physiology
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / drug effects
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Hexanones / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Signal Transduction
  • Wnt Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • beta Catenin / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Differentiation-inducing factor-1, Dictyostelium
  • Hexanones
  • Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin
  • Cyclin D1
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Gsk3b protein, mouse
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3