STING modulators: Predictive significance in drug discovery

Eur J Med Chem. 2019 Nov 15:182:111591. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111591. Epub 2019 Aug 8.

Abstract

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS) - stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway plays the critical role in the immune response to DNA. Pharmacological modulation of the STING pathway has been well characterized both from structural and functional perspectives, which paves the way for the drug design of small modulators by medicinal chemists. Here, we outline recent progress in studies on the STING pathway, the structure and biological function of STING, the STING related disease, as well as the rationale and progress in the development of STING modulators. Our review demonstrates that STING is a promising drug target, and providing clues for the discovery of novel STING agonists and antagonists for the potential treatment of various disease including microbial infectious diseases, cancer, and autoimmune disease.

Keywords: Immunotherapy; Innate immune response; STING; Small modulators.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Autoimmune Diseases / drug therapy
  • Autoimmune Diseases / metabolism
  • Communicable Diseases / drug therapy
  • Communicable Diseases / metabolism
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins* / agonists
  • Membrane Proteins* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Nucleotides / pharmacology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology*
  • Xanthones / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nucleotides
  • STING1 protein, human
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Xanthones
  • vadimezan