Research Progress of Apoptosis Signal Regulating Kinase 1 Inhibitors

Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) family of cellular mitogen-activated protein kinases, and its regulated ASK1-JNK-p38 signaling pathway is closely related to various diseases. Under the stimulation of cellular stress, ASK1 will be activated and induce phosphorylation of its downstream c-Jun aminoterminal kinases (c-JNK) and p38 kinases, which will activate the downstream cytokines to promote cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and production of inflammatory factors, leading to destructive inflammation, cell death, and fibrosis in the organism. Currently, the therapeutic potential of ASK1 inhibitors has been observed in a variety of diseases of the kidney, liver, central nervous system and joints. This paper reviews the potential application of ASK1 inhibitors in the treatment of diseases and the research progress of ASK1 inhibitors, aiming to provide some guidance for the design and development of ASK1 inhibitors.