Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 16, Issue 28, 2009

It has traditionally been accepted that, in the process of cellular differentiation, developmental options are progressively restricted until commitment to a specific fate is established and then only terminal differentiation along this lineage is possible. Although this is usually the case in normal physiological development, the latest experimental evidences indicate that the differentiated state of mature cells is not always Read More

Methionine, in addition to its role in protein synthesis, participates in 3 important cellular functions: as AdoMet in transmethylation; as decarboxylated-AdoMet in aminopropylation; as homocysteine its demethylated form, in transsulphuration. Here we provide evidence from the literature and from our own work for a fourth role for its oxoacid: 4- methylthio-2-oxo-butanoate (MTOB) in apoptosis [28,29]. MTOB ent Read More

Besides the importance of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the circulation and other organs, the local RAS in the kidney has attracted a great attention in research in last decades. The renal RAS plays an important role in the body fluid homeostasis and long-term cardiovascular regulation. All major components and key enzymes for the establishment of a local RAS as well as two important angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor sub Read More

Influenza is a disease for deeply affecting millions of people every year. Recently, there has been considerable concern regarding the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus, and its human pandemic potential. With developments in viral biology, there are more novel antiviral strategies targeting these viruses. In this review, we will discuss several proven and potential anti-influenza targets, including viral factor Read More

Antimicrobial resistance constitutes one of the major threats regarding pathogenic microorganisms. Gramnegative pathogens, such as Enterobacteriaceae (specially those producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii, have acquired an important role in hospital infections, which is of particular concern because of the associated broad spectrum of antibiotic r Read More

Variants of the gene of the interleukin-23 receptor (IL23R) were first identified as susceptibility factors in association with inflammatory bowel diseases. Since then it became clear that different variants of the gene play role also in a number of other autoimmune diseases like psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis while in others, like systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus o Read More

Covering: 1937 to Mar 2008. Caged xanthones, characterized by a unique 4-oxa-tricyclo[4.3.1.03,7]dec-2-one scaffold, are a special class of bioactive components mainly derived from the Garcinia genus (Guttiferae family). Around 100 compounds from this family have been reported to date and most of them have potent antitumor activity, with gambogic acid being the best representative. During the past decades, inspi Read More