JAK2 Inhibition: Reviewing a New Therapeutical Option in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

• Main Authors: Mar Bellido, Peter A. W. te Boekhorst
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2012-01-01
• Series: Advances in Hematology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/535709

JAK2 is a tyrosine kinase gene that plays an essential role in the development of normal haematopoiesis. Hyperactivation of JAK2 occurs in myeloproliferative neoplasms by different mechanisms. As a consequence, JAK2 inhibitors have been designed to suppress the cytokine signalling cascade caused by the constitutive activation of JAK2. In clinical trials, JAK2 inhibitors are efficient in decreasing spleen size, controlling clinical symptoms, and improving quality of life in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. However, JAK2 inhibitors are unable to target uncommitted hematopoietic progenitors responsible of the initiation of the myeloproliferative disease. It is expected that, in order to cure the myeloproliferative disease, JAK2 inhibitors should be combined with other drugs to target simultaneously different pathways and to target the initiator hematopoietic cell population in myeloproliferative disorders. Taking advantage of the inhibition of the cytokine cascade of JAK2 inhibitors, these compounds are going to be used not only to treat patients with hematological neoplasms but may also be beneficial to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis or other inflammatory diseases.