INTEGRIN-LINKED KINASE, ITS INHIBITORS AND METHODS OF MEDICAL TREATMENT USING THESE INHIBITORS, GENE THERAPY AND PSEUDO-SUBSTRATE INHIBITORS

摘要

This invention relates to an isolated and purified serine/threonine kinasewhich is an integrin-linked kinase, designated "ILK". ILKcan be used to modulate cell growth, modulate cell adhesion, modulate cellmigration and modulate cell invasion. Inhibitors of ILK activityinclude (1) screens aimed at DNA, RNA or structural components of ILK, (2)pseudo-substrate inhibitors, such as a peptide which mimicsa substrate sequence for ILK, and (3) drugs which specifically inhibit ILKactivity. The diseases treated by these inhibitors include cancer,leukemia, solid tumors, chronic inflammatory disease, arthritis, osteoporosisand cardiovascular disease. Diagnostics of ILK activity includeDNA-based reagents derived from the nucleotide sequence of ILK and antibodiesagainst ILK screen biopsy-derived samples of amplifiedILK DNA, or increased expression of ILK mRNA or protein. Assays which screendrugs which specifically inhibit ILK activity are includedwithin this invention.