Editorial [Hot Topic:Mimetic Peptides in Allergy and Inflammation Treatment (Guest Editor: Demitrios H. Vynios)]

Allergy can be defined as an adverse immune-mediated overreaction to otherwise innocuous environmental substances, that is, allergens. It is well established that allergic diseases (atopic diseases), such as hay fever, rhinoconjunctivitis, allergic bronchial asthma, allergic dermatitis, eczema, urticaria, angioedema and anaphylaxis, are global health problems affecting more than 25% of the worldwide population. Allergic disorders remain the most common cause of chronic ill health and socioeconomic burden for health-related quality of life and healthcare costs. Treatment of allergy may be proceeded by using drugs such as antihistamines and topical corticosteroids to eliminate symptoms or suppress allergic inflammation without addressing the underlying cause, or by using more or less sophisticated therapies that target specific cells or macromolecules. Among the targeted therapies, those using peptide drugs are highly promising, since peptides have cheap production, various ways of delivery and low side-effects. Recent researh is focused on the characterization of new allegrens, the detailed mechanism of allergic reaction, and the prevention or the treatment of allergic reaction in patients. This special issue of Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry is dedicated to Mimetic peptides in allergy and inflammation treatment. Emphasis has given in the recent developments in allergy basic knowledge and the new pharmacotherapies employed for its treatment. I wish to thank all the authors of the publications for their readiness and cooperation in this issue, which we hope will have a strong impact in the area of Mimetic peptides in allergy and inflammation treatment. I would also like to thank the Editor-In- Chief, Dr. Bahar Tunctan, for her willingness to entrust me with the preparation of this special issue and for her unlimited collaboration in all steps necessary. From my personal point of vantage, I am thankfull and consider myself to have been rewarded for extending my knowledge on this field during the process of reading and editing the articles.