Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 12, Issue 15, 2005

During the past decade, combined highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) consisting of the nucleoside, non-nucleoside and protease inhibitors has improved the outlook for HIV-infected individuals. However, despite the clinical improvement associated with HAART, current antiviral drug regimens are not able to eradicate HIV due to the persistence of virus in cellular reservoirs (predominantly long-lived memory CD4+ T c Read More

Serotonin is a neuromediator, well-know for its implication in mood regulation, anxiety, depression and, insomnia as well as in normal human function such as sleep, sexual activity and appetite. In this way, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is one of the most attractive targets for medicinal chemists and pharmaceutical companies. Among 5-HTRs, the 5-HT1A subtype is the best studied, and it is generally accepted Read More

New approaches to atherosclerosis-related diseases include novel uses of proven treatments and development of innovative agents. Several commonly used cardiovascular drugs such as dihydropyridine calcium antagonists, ACE inhibitors containing the sulphydryl group, or highly lipophilic beta-blockers have some antiatherosclerotic activities. Moreover, new clinical trials suggesting that additional reduction of lowd Read More

Oncogenic conversion of receptor protein tyrosine kinases (RTK) is a frequent feature of malignant cells. This knowledge has fostered efforts to develop target-specific low molecular weight therapeutics able to obstruct RTK signalling. The clinical efficacy of the ABL- and KIT-inhibitors are paradigmatic of the power of this approach. Here, we focus on small-molecule inhibitors for RTKs involved in human cancer. In particula Read More

There is an increasing number of studies utilizing dendritic cell (DC) based therapies for cancer. With a powerful antigen-presentation capability, DCs have the potential to overcome tumor tolerance and induce anti-tumor immunity, when loaded with tumor antigens. In order to optimize this approach, methods have aimed to enhance immunopotency of therapeutic DCs. A thorough understanding of DC immunobiology would Read More

Nervous and immune systems mutually cooperate via release of mediators of both neurological and immunological derivation. Adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) is a product of the hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal axis (HPAA) which stimulates secretion of corticosteroids from adrenals. In turn, corticosteroids modulate the immune response in virtue of their anti-inflammatory activity. On the other hand, catecholamines, product Read More

Since 1996, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was designed to rapidly control HIV replication. It has had a significant impact on patient health and progression of AIDS in developed countries, but its success has not been complete. HAART strategy still suffers from issues of patient compliance, cost, deleterious side effects and emerging drug resistance. Therefore, expansion of novel anti-HIV drugs and targets will b Read More