Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Allergy Agents) - Volume 6, Issue 3, 2007

Biologic agents are becoming more important in dermatology in recent years due to their success in treating some skin diseases resistant to other medical therapies. In a few studies, they have been found effective in increasing the quality of life of psoriatic patients by removing the physical and social restrictions of the disease. Though costly and difficult to prescribe, they are used more in dermatology as other rheumatic dis Read More

In recent years, the role of T cells, dentritic antigen presenting cells (APCs) and cytokine network in inflammatory dermatoses has been more completely understood. This in turn has enabled the completion of new potentials and goals in immunotherapy. As research in Immunodermatology increased, newly targeted treatments for immunodisfunction were also developed. These treatments were not only beneficial for the pa Read More

Inhibition of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α has been shown to be an effective strategy for treating inflammatory dermatoses. Etanercept competitively inhibits the interaction of TNF, interrupting the proinflammatory cytokine cascade and preventing TNF mediated cellular responses. The success of etanercept in a wide range of dermatologic conditions especially in psoriasis gives a new hope in dermatological therapy Read More

Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) which is major cytokine playing pivotal role in inflammatory diseases. Efficacy and safety of infliximab was studied in numerous inflammatory skin diseases where TNF-α is involved in pathogenesis especially in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. This review summarizes the current data revealing the efficacy and safety of i Read More

Efalizumab is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody designed to selectively and reversibly block the activation, reactivation and trafficking of T-cells that lead to the development of psoriasis. It has been approved in the US in 2003 and in Europe in 2004 for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis for whom other systemic treatments or phototherapy have been inadequate or inappropria Read More

Alefacept is a fully human fusion protein, being the first biologic agent approved for the treatment of chronic, moderate to severe plaque-type psoriasis. Its dual mechanism of action involves inhibition of T-cell activation and selective reduction of memory T cells. It has a slow onset of action, peaking approximately 18 weeks after the first injection. However, it is associated with long remissions without the need for main Read More

Patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis, will require phototherapy, systemic therapy, or both for adequate disease control. Although a number of well established therapies are available for psoriasis, there are still unmet needs remain, such as longterm safety and practicability. Psoriasis currently regarded as an immune-mediated inflammatory disease, inflammatory response is amplified as a result of increased tumor ne Read More

Imiquimod is an immune response-modifying agent that demonstrates potent antiviral and antitumour activity. Although it's use has been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in the treatment of external genital and perianal warts, actinic keratosis on the face or scalp and superficial basal cell carcinomas, it has recently been tried to treat different types of dermatological diseases including molluscum conta Read More

Pimecrolimus and tacrolimus represent the first members of a new class of medications, calcineurin inhibitors. These topical macrolide immunomodulators have been successfully introduced in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. They inhibit T cell proliferation, mast cell degranulation, production and release of IL-2, IL-4, IF-γ and TNF-α. They do not effect endothelial cells and fibroblasts, so they do not in Read More

The members of the S100 protein family compose a multigenic family of non-ubiquitous cytoplasmic Ca2+- binding proteins of EF-hand type that are differentially expressed in a wide variety of cell types. In particular, S100A8 and S100A9 also known as calgranulins are abundant in myeloid cells. Profound expression of S100A8 and S100A9 has been reported in various disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bo Read More