Kinases as Potential Therapeutic Targets for Anti-coronaviral Therapy

J Med Chem. 2022 Jan 27;65(2):955-982. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00335. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

Abstract

The global coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) has affected more than 140 million and killed more than 3 million people worldwide as of April 20, 2021. The novel human severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been identified as an etiological agent for COVID-19. Several kinases have been proposed as possible mediators of multiple viral infections, including life-threatening coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-1, Middle East syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and SARS-CoV-2. Viral infections hijack abundant cell signaling pathways, resulting in drastic phosphorylation rewiring in the host and viral proteins. Some kinases play a significant role throughout the viral infection cycle (entry, replication, assembly, and egress), and several of them are involved in the virus-induced hyperinflammatory response that leads to cytokine storm, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), organ injury, and death. Here, we highlight kinases that are associated with coronavirus infections and their inhibitors with antiviral and potentially anti-inflammatory, cytokine-suppressive, or antifibrotic activity.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • Humans
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / drug effects
  • SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Virus Replication / drug effects

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors