Current Molecular Pharmacology - Volume 11, Issue 2, 2018

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs able to regulate gene expression at multiple levels. They are detected in tissues, blood, and other body fluids with high stability and have a recognized role in maintaining of tissue homeostasis. Aberrant expression profile of miRNAs has been observed in several diseases, primarily cancer. As a consequence, the analysis of miRNA signature has recognized dia Read More

Background: New psychoactive substances (NPS), often referred to as “legal highs” or “designer drugs”, are derivatives and analogues of existing psychoactive drugs that are introduced in the recreational market to circumvent existing legislation on drugs of abuse. Objective: This systematic review aims to gather the state of the art regarding chemical, molecular pharmacology and toxicological information of opioid class of Read More

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major health problem with an increasing global prevalence. It is usually associated with an imbalance between pro-oxidant mechanisms and antioxidant defenses, contributing to oxidative-stress, and this leads to an increased susceptibility to endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, insulin-resistance and impaired-pancreatic β-cell function. Objective: We have assessed the Pro Read More

Background and Objective: The development of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Imatinib (IM) represents a milestone in CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) treatment. However, it is not curative and patients develop IM resistance. IM resistance has been previously correlated with the emergence of drug-resistant LIC/LSC (Leukemia Initiating Cell/Leukemia Stem Cell) and increased nuclear catenin levels and enhanced Read More

Background and Objective: The objective of present study is to explore multiple effects of the compound MG17 and relate them to achieve better therapeutic potential against neuroinflammation related disorders. We examined whether our compound is acting through regulating neuroinflammatory mediators. Methods: We have done some preliminary behavioral studies to shortlist the derivatives using rodent mo Read More

Background and Objective: The high degree of malignancy of tumour cells is linked to alterations of many physiological parameters like the intracellular pH (pHi). The pHi in cancer cell line is regulated by the carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX). The main enzymatic function of the CA IX protein is to catalyze the hydration of carbon dioxide into bicarbonate ions and protons. CA IX expression in a broad variety of human tumor tiss Read More

Background: Modafinil (MOD) is a waking-promoting compound that is used for the treatment of sleep disorders such as sleepiness and narcolepsy. Despite its efficiency, there are missing pieces of evidence regarding the mechanism of action of MOD at molecular level. For example, current data have demonstrated that MOD induces alertness by activating several wake-related neurotransmitter receptors, including dopamine Read More

Background: The ubiquitous nuclear receptor PPARβ/δ is increasingly being studied in regards to numerous diseases including diabetes following on the finding that PPARβ/δ agonist GW0742 controls Type 1 Diabetes in rats. Studies have shown that GW0742 has off target, non- PPARβ/δ effects in the cell although there are some key questions that remain to be addressed in respect to the significance of this control on vascular ton Read More

Background and Objective: Imipenem has played an important role in the treatment of broad-spectrum bacterial infection. However, nephrotoxicity due to imipenem remains an important clinical challenge. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis stating that N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and atorvastatin possess a nephroprotective effect against imipenem-induced nephrotoxicity. Methods: Adult Sprague Dawley rats were rand Read More

Background and Objective: Gamma-decanolactone (GD) is a monoterpene effective against seizures induced by pentylenetetrazole. The mechanism of action of GD is likely to be via glutamate antagonism. GD also inhibits intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and the lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in vitro. Conside Read More