Current Drug Targets - Volume 4, Issue 8, 2003

Correct regulation of gene expression is essential both to normal development and to the correct functioning of the adult organism. Such regulation is usually achieved at the level of DNA transcription, a process that controls which genes are transcribed into RNA by the enzyme RNA polymerase, although post-transcriptional regulation is also important. The transcription of specific genes is controlled by regulatory pro Read More

Efficient and minimally invasive drug delivery systems have been developed to treat intractable human diseases. One approach has been the development of chimeric vector systems combining at least two different vector systems. Based on this concept, chimeric drug delivery systems that combine viral and non-viral features have been developed. Fusigenic non-viral particles have been constructed by conferring viral f Read More

Recent progress in cellular and molecular research has provided a new technique to inhibit target gene expression based on DNA technology such as antisense oligonucleotides (ODN) or decoy ODN. Especially, application of an antisense strategy to regulate the transcription of disease-related genes in vivo has important therapeutic potential to treat or cure a variety of diseases and abnormal physiological conditions. On the ot Read More

Recent progress in molecular biology has provided application of gene transfer methods in arthritis. Two clinical trails using ex vivo retrovirus mediated delivery of interleukin -1 receptor antagonist gene for rheumatoid arthritis has begun in USA and Germany. However, there are still many issues to be elucidated; one is the development of gene delivery system, and the other is the selection of therapeutic gene. Arthritis is n Read More

Molecular therapy is emerging as a potential strategy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease such as restenosis after angioplasty, vascular bypass graft occlusion, transplant coronary vasculopathy, homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and cystic fibrosis, for which no known effective therapy exists. Molecular biology and pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system have started to emerge, and the time is rip Read More

Decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) that can reduce the trans-activity of transcription factors may be highly useful in gene therapy and the study of transcriptional regulation. Several different types of these double-stranded DNA decoys have been developed, including unmodified oligonucleotide duplexes, αβ-anomeric oligonucleotides, and oligonucleotide duplexes with methylphosphonate- and phosphorothioate-modified linkage Read More

Recanalization therapy remains the most effective way for treatment of evolving myocardial infarction and thereby salvaging jeopardized tissue. However, the efficacy of reperfusion in limiting infarction and improving recovery of contractile function depends on the amount of irreversible damage occurring prior to initiating reperfusion and is related to failure of energy production to meet the basal needs of the injured my Read More

Synthetic peptide sequences constitute a useful tool to understand protein related diseases. A preliminary study consists of the analysis of peptide interaction with model membranes. The simplest one is based on monomolecular films of lipids spread at the air-water interface that imitate the interfacial environment in which some proteins function. Monolayer methodology provides a reliable screen of the extent to which hydro Read More

Increasing bacterial resistance to virtually all available antibiotics causes an urgent need for new antimicrobial drugs, drug targets and therapeutic concepts. This review focuses on strategies to render bacteria highly susceptible to the antimicrobial arsenal of the immune system by targeting bacterial immune escape mechanisms that are conserved in a major number of pathogens. Virtually all innate molecules that inactivate Read More

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is an important manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis that is characterized by obstruction of the arteries in the lower limbs. Experimental and epidemiological studies suggested a key role for oxidative stress in initiation and progression of the atherosclerotic process. The results of these studies provided a good basis for interventional trials with antioxidants, particularly with vitamin E, but the f Read More

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays a role in the degradation of the bulk of proteins in the cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments. In this pathway proteins are targeted for degradation by covalent ligation with ubiquitin, a reaction that requires ATP. Following the binding of the first ubiquitin molecule with the e-amino group of a lysine residue of the substrate protein, a polyubiquitin chain is usually formed, in which th Read More