Current Drug Targets - Inflammation & Allergy - Volume 4, Issue 1, 2005

Antiangiogenesis in Chronic Inflammation This issue of “Current Drug Targets - Inflammation & Allergy” is dedicated to the topic of “Antiangiogenesis in chronic inflammation”. Interest in angiogenesis research remains strong in recent years: many laboratories worldwide are actively involved in the study of several aspects of this field and the literature on angiogenesis increases exponentially. The growth of ne Read More

The angiogenic process involves several cell types and mediators, which interact to establish a specific microenvironment suitable for the formation of new capillaries from pre-existing vessels. Angiogenesis occurs in several physiological and pathological conditions, such as embryo development and wound healing, diabetic retinopathy and tumours. Inflammatory cells, namely monocytes/macrophages, T lymphocytes and neutrop Read More

Mast cells (MC) are granulated secretory cells that have long been recognized as a rich source of biologically highly active mediators such as biogenic amines, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, proteases, cytokines and chemokines. Most of their biological functions however has been rather elusive. There are now emerging data assigning these cells a relevant role in orchestrating angiogenesis, both in normal and pathologic Read More

The pathogenesis of a number of chronic inflammatory processes can be attributed to prolonged neovascularization. This article reviews recent studies on the vasculature targeting strategies for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Targeting of the vasculature of inflamed organs could underlie a new pharmacological approach in the treatment of inflammatory diseases by taking advantage of formulations that deli Read More

The CXC chemokines are an unique family of cytokines known for their ability to behave in a disparate manner in the regulation of angiogenesis. The mechanisms for the different activity in regulating angiogenesis by members of this chemokine family is related to the following: 1) the presence or absence of the structural / functional motif (Glutamic acid-Leucine-Arginine; ‘ELR’ motif) that immediately precedes the first Read More

Angiogenesis, i.e., the induction of new blood vessels from existing vasculature, is a crucial event in the formation and maintenance of the pannus in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The arthritis is characterized by destruction of peripheral joints in which the cartilage and bone are destroyed by proliferative synovitis. This is characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells and formation of new blood vessels. Angiogenesis occurs Read More

The formation of new blood vessels, a process globally referred to as angiogenesis, occurs in a number of pathological conditions, such as cancer and chronic inflammation. Recent findings indicate that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), the inducible form of the cyclooxygenase (COX) isoenzymes, acts as a potent inducer of angiogenesis. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are classical inhibitors of COX enzymes, which Read More

Molecular Biology-Pathophysiology of Inflammation and Autoinflammation It is a great pleasure and an honor as well for me to present to the readers of this Journal a Special Issue dedicated to a set of topics in the area of molecular biology-pathophysiology of inflammation and autoinflammation. Inflammation, a rather cardinal concept in biology and not only in medicine, representing the most common reaction Read More

The advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of the autoimmune diseases have led to new treatment targets. Biological agents enhance or replace conventional immunosuppressive therapies in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. TNF-α has been validated as a good treatment target but the potential modalities also include the inhibition of the interaction between LFA-3 (lymphocyte function-associated antigen 3 Read More

The genetic heterogeneity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) (8 genotypes A-H) has been applied for tracing the route of HBV transmission and the geographical migration of HBV carriers but it also appeared to have clinical implications. The secondary structure of e encapsidation signal could explain why the precore mutant virus prevails in Mediterranean countries, where genotype D is most prevalent, while the wild type virus Read More

Amyloidosis remains currently a severe potential complication of many chronic inflammatory disorders. It is not exactly know why some patients develop a progressive amyloidosis, whereas others do not although latent deposits may be present. A permanent acute phase response, ideally evaluated with serial measurement of serum protein SAA, the precursor of the AA protein deposited in tissues, seems to be a prerequisi Read More

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF, MIM24900), described as a clinical entity only slightly over a half-century ago, has ancient roots among populations surrounding the Mediterranean basin. It is the most prevalent of the hereditary periodic fever syndromes, a group of disorders characterized by episodic attacks of fever and inflammation. Seven years ago, it was discovered that FMF is caused by mutations in MEF Read More

Autoinflammatory diseases are defined as recurrent “unprovoked” inflammatory events which do not produce high-titer autoantibodies or antigen-specific T cells. There are currently eight hereditary forms of these diseases: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), hyperimmunoglobulinemia D with periodic fever syndrome (HIDS), tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS), Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS), f Read More

Autoinflammatory diseases are a group of heritable disorders that are characterized by seemingly unprovoked episodes of inflammation at certain locations and and relative lack of high-titer autoantibodies or antigen-specific T cells. Behçet's disease is an inflammatory disorder of unknown aetiology, and many of its characteristic recurrent manifestations overlap with those of autoinflammatory diseases. Behçet's disease ha Read More

According to modern images and results of our observations the oxidative stress (OS) is a non-specific though certain component of pathogenesis at numerous diseased states of organism having in the basis the thoroughness of pathogenic disturbances of phospholipids (PL) metabolism and processes of their free radical oxidation (FRO), which takes place in the membrane formations of as the whole cell, as well as the mitoch Read More

The autoimmune diseases result from inappropriate responses of the immune system to self antigens. The etiology of autoimmune diseases remains largely unknown but candidate etiologic factors include genetic abnormalities and infections. Although there are considerable data supporting the role of infections in a variety of autoimmune diseases, this role has been unequivocally established in only a few autoim Read More

Vasculitis is definitely associated with familial Mediterranean fever. This familial Mediterranean fever-associated vasculitis takes one of three forms: polyarteritis nodosa, with or without microscopic polyangiitis, and Henoch-Schonlein purpura. Behcet disease and inflammatory bowel diseases may also be associated with familial Mediterranean fever, though this is yet to be formally proven. The selective biological advantage, if any, Read More

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF, MIM 249100), or Periodic disease, is a recessively transmitted and ethnically restricted condition prevalent in population from the Mediterranean decent. FMF notoriously has been hard to diagnose until mutations in the MEFV gene have been identified and as a tremendous help are used for the diagnosis of difficult cases. Since FMF can be controlled by medication, it is extremely desirable t Read More

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), an autosomal recessive disorder, is characterised by recurrent attacks of fever and serositis, lasting 24-72 hours. Since 1972 colchicine has become the drug of choice for prophylaxis against FMF attacks and amyloidosis FMF-associated. Colchicine, an alkaloid neutral, is absorbed in the jejunum and ileum. It metabolised by liver and only small amounts are recovered unchanged in the u Read More

Complement has been long perceived as an innate immune system that plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of host defense against infectious agents and the propagation of pro-inflammatory responses in the context of human disease. Complement activation has been associated with the onset of acute inflammatory reactions leading to complications such as acute graft rejection, local tissue injury and multiorgan failure. H Read More