Cyclin-dependent Kinases as Emerging Targets for Developing Novel Antiviral Therapeutics.

Besides its prominent role in cell proliferation, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are key players in viral infections as both DNA and RNA viruses modify CDK function to favor viral replication. Recently, a number of specific pharmacological CDK inhibitors have been developed and approved for cancer treatment. The repurposing of these specific CDK inhibitors for the treatment of viral infections may represent a novel effective therapeutic strategy to combat old and emergent viruses. In this review, we describe the role, mechanisms of action, and potential of CDKs as antiviral drug targets. We also discuss the current clinical state of novel specific CDK inhibitors, focusing on their putative use as antivirals, especially against new emerging viruses.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests L.G.-C. is a research fellow from AGAUR, Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca de la Generalitat de Catalunya and Fons Social Europeu. I.E. is a research fellow from la Caixa (LCF/BQ/IN18/11660017) cofunded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 713673. E.F. and E.B. are fellows from ISCIII-FIS (CM20/00027 and CPII19/00012, respectively). M.M. has received honorariums as advisory role for Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche. Other authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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