RACK1 in host immune response to infections: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potentials.

The global healthcare system faces increasing threats from emerging and re-emerging pathogens. Current understanding of host-pathogen interactions and underlying immune mechanisms remains incomplete, which hinders the development of effective diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies. The receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) is a multifunctional scaffolding protein that integrates diverse signaling pathways, modulates translation, and regulates key cellular processes. Despite accumulating evidence implicating RACK1 in host immune response to infections, its multifaceted roles and mechanisms remain poorly defined. Hence, this review systematically discusses the involvement of RACK1 in host defense against bacterial and viral pathogens, with a focus on its regulation of inflammatory signaling, inflammasome activation, hormone-mediated immune regulation, reactive oxygen species production, adaptive immunity, and different pathogen infections. Together, current evidence suggests that RACK1 links signaling and translation to shape immune responses in different infectious settings and may provide a basis for host-directed therapeutic strategies.