Transcription Factor Drug Targets

Transcription factors represent the point of convergence of multiple signaling pathways within eukaryotic cells. Deregulated transcription factors contribute to the pathogenesis of a plethora of human diseases, ranging from diabetes, inflammatory disorders and cardiovascular disease to many cancers, and thus these proteins hold great therapeutic potential. Direct modulation of transcription factor function by small molecules is no longer regarded a Sisyphean task, as recent work in drug discovery has revealed that transcription factors are amenable to drug inhibition. Here in we summarize, recent advances regarding the significance of transcription factors in human diseases and we discuss emerging pharmacological strategies to modulate transcription factor function. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2693-2696, 2016. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.