Janus kinases: dermatological perspective, a review

Janus kinases (JAKs) are a group of nonreceptor intracellular tyrosine kinases that could modify cytokine-mediated signals through the JAK-signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway. This pathway is triggered by cytokines participating in the inflammatory process, innate and adaptive immunological responses, as well as cell growth. Current researches suggest the possible disruption in JAK/signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway in different autoimmune and inflammatory skin diseases, such as psoriasis, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, and alopecia areata. Various drugs that activate or block this pathway are under study for the assessment of their possible role in skin diseases.