Current Drug Targets - Immune, Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders - Current Issue

ATB0,+ is a unique amino acid transporter because of its broad substrate specificity and concentrative ability. This transporter recognizes neutral as well as cationic amino acids. It is energized by Na+ and Cl- gradients and membrane potential. Many of the amino acids and amino acid derivatives that are substrates for ATB0,+ serve as therapeutic agents (e.g., D-serine, carnitine, and nitric oxide synthase inhibitors). Re Read More

Cancer specific immunity elicited with vaccines has traditionally focused on the activation of the CD8 cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) often involving direct stimulation of immunity using HLA-class I binding peptide epitopes. Recently it has become clear that activation of the CTL immune effector arm alone is insufficient to mediate an anticancer response. A major problem is that CD8 T cells alone can not be sustained without the Read More

Liver disease is the second cause of mortality in thalassemia major. We present a review on the hepatic damage in thalassemic patients aimed at a knowledge of current preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, useful to guide in clinical judgment and treatment decisions. Transfusion related iron overload and hepatitis are the causes of liver damage in thalassemic patients. We examined means of primary prevention, Read More

The development of breast cancer is the consequence of uncontrolled growth and division of breast-ductal epithelial cells. While many factors contribute to its etiology, estrogen hormones within the context of many interrelated growth signaling pathways play critical roles for the initiation and development of breast cancer. The effects of estrogens are primarily mediated by the estrogen receptors (ERs) α and β. ER mediat Read More

Dendritic cells (DCs) play an important role in initiating and directing T-cells towards immunity or tolerance. An important aim of emerging immunosuppressive strategies is to ensure that antigen is perceived in a 'tolerogenic context'. This would have obvious benefit in minimising the need for long-term drug maintenance in organ transplantation, hypersensitivity and autoimmune diseases. Here we review the biology o Read More

The immune system is a tightly regulated network that is able to maintain a balance of immune homeostasis under normal physiological conditions. Normally, when challenged with foreign antigen, specific appropriate responses are initiated that are aimed at restoring homeostasis. However under particular circumstances, this balance is not maintained and immune responses either under or over react. Cancer is an example Read More

Insulin and glucagon regulate the expression and/or activity of a variety of proteins to maintain blood glucose within normal limits. A key target is the gene encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), which catalyzes the first committed step in hepatic gluconeogenesis. Acute regulation of PEPCK is achieved by modulating transcription of the gene, which is tightly regulated by cAMP (the mediator of glucagon a Read More

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) is a group of enzymes that metabolize drugs to a more water-soluble form, rendering them available for renal excretion. The major site of CYP expression is the liver. Nearly 50% of all medications currently on the market are metabolized by the enzyme CYP3A4, while metabolism of another 35-40% occurs through enzymes CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A5 CYP3A6, and CYP3A7. Here, we summariz Read More

STAT5 belongs to a small family of transcription factors with dual functions. The seven signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) act as signaling components between the plasma membrane and the nucleus, and as transcription factors with specific DNA binding ability in the nucleus. STAT5 regulates the expression of genes, which determine important cellular phenotypes. It can promote proliferation and inhi Read More

More than forty cytokines have been extensively researched on the molecular structure, cell signaling and transduction pathway. With respect to cytokine-regulating therapy in immunological imbalance however, the reported results are conflicting because of the pleiotropic functions and the intricate interactions of the cytokine network. In this review, we outline the observations on interleukin-10 (IL-10) upregulatory therapy. Read More