GSK3β and the control of infectious bacterial diseases

• GSK3β is a constitutively active serine/threonine kinase with multiple Toll-like receptor (TLR) signal-related targets.
• Inhibition of GSK3β is an effective treatment for septicemic shock.
• Some important bacterial pathogens target GSK3β to enable intracellular infection and to evade host responses.
• Some antibiotics function as GSK3β inhibitors.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) has been shown to be a crucial mediator of the intensity and direction of the innate immune system response to bacterial stimuli. This review focuses on: (i) the central role of GSK3β in the regulation of pathogen-induced inflammatory responses through the regulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production, (ii) the extensive ongoing efforts to exploit GSK3β for its therapeutic potential in the control of infectious diseases, and (iii) the increasing evidence that specific pathogens target GSK3β-related pathways for immune evasion. A better understanding of complex bacteria–GSK3β interactions is likely to lead to more effective anti-inflammatory interventions and novel targets to circumvent pathogen colonization and survival.