Protein-protein interactions in cGAS-STING pathway: a medicinal chemistry perspective

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) play pivotal roles in biological processes and are closely linked with human diseases. Research on small molecule inhibitors targeting PPIs provides valuable insights and guidance for novel drug development. The cGAS-STING pathway plays a crucial role in regulating human innate immunity and is implicated in various pathological conditions. Therefore, modulators of the cGAS-STING pathway have garnered extensive attention. Given that this pathway involves multiple PPIs, modulating PPIs associated with the cGAS-STING pathway has emerged as a promising strategy for modulating this pathway. In this review, we summarize an overview of recent advancements in medicinal chemistry insights into cGAS-STING PPI-based modulators and propose alternative strategies for further drug discovery based on the cGAS-STING pathway.