Racl in human diseases: The therapeutic potential of targeting Racl signaling regulatory mechanisms

摘要

Abnormal Racl signaling is linked to a number of debilitating human diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative disorders. As such, Racl represents an attractive therapeutic target, yet the search for effective Racl inhibitors is still underway. Given the adverse effects associated with Racl signaling perturbation, cells have evolved several mechanisms to ensure the tight regulation of Racl signaling. Thus, characterizing these mechanisms can provide invaluable information regarding major cellular events that lead to aberrant Racl signaling. Importantly, this information can be utilized to further facilitate the development of effective pharmacological modulators that can restore normal Racl signaling. In this review, we focus on the pathological role of Racl signaling, highlighting the benefits and potential drawbacks of targeting Racl in a clinical setting. Additionally, we provide an overview of available compounds that target key Racl regulatory mechanisms and discuss future therapeutic avenues arising from our understanding of these mechanisms.