[PI3K-AKT network roles in infectious diseases]

Kansenshogaku Zasshi. 2008 May;82(3):161-7. doi: 10.11150/kansenshogakuzasshi1970.82.161.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

The PI3K-AKT network, which is activated by cytokines or growth factors, mediates intracellular signals to regulate a variety of cellular responses, including antiapoptosis, proliferation, cell cycling, protein synthesis, glucose metabolism, and telomere activity. Genomic mutations, alterations of the PI3K-AKT regulatory network, underlie such diseases as cancer, glucose intolerance (diabetes mellitus), schizophrenia, and/or autoimmune diseases. In addition to direct tumorigenesis involvement by genetically altering human cancer, the PI3K-AKT network underlies the clinical manifestation of different stages of tumorigenic viral infection, such as latent and chronic infection, and malignant transformation of Epstein-Barr, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) viruses. We summarize updated knowledge on the PI3K-AKT network underlying different phathological viral and/or bacterial infections. Antiviral activity engendered by suppressing of PI3K-AKT activity, rather than directly targeting anticancer activity via oncogenes, may thus open up ways to prevent malignant transformation by tumorigenic viral infection.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Communicable Diseases / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / physiology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / physiology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • TCL1A protein, human
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt