Current Pharmaceutical Design - Volume 12, Issue 19, 2006

Prostanoids and cytokines are secreted or cell-surface associated effector molecules, which mediate cell-to-cell communication and regulate complex biological processes in health and disease. Some of these molecules are synthesized by cells having highly specialized functions (such as cells of the endocrine system), but most are ubiquitously expressed in more than one cell type or tissue. Originally, such regulatory mole Read More

The recent increase in immunocompromised patient populations, including HIV-infected patients, cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, and transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressive therapy, has led to an increased incidence of clinically significant chronic opportunistic infections. Traditional treatment of chronic persistent infections has strongly relied on the use of antimicrobial drugs. Howe Read More

Production of IgE antibodies promotes the development of allergic disorders such as asthma, rhinitis and atopic eczema. Though Th2 cytokines play a pivotal role in the allergic inflammatory cascade, therapeutic strategies which target these factors have not been curative in clinical trials. In humans, the allergic phenotype encompasses a broad spectrum of diverse clinical entities, which are dictated by genetics as well as the Read More

Asthma is a complex disease caused by a poorly characterized set of genetic and environmental factors whose pathology is a result of immune dysregulation. Toll-like receptors are pathogen associated molecular pattern receptors expressed by many airway and pulmonary tissues as well as cells of the innate and adaptive immune system. Ligation of toll-like receptors can lead to a change in the expression levels of multiple i Read More

Prostanoids are produced in response to numerous growth factors and environmental stimuli. Their synthesis is dependent on two cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, COX-1 and COX-2, which are rate-limiting for the production of prostaglandins (PGs) and thromboxanes from free arachidonic acid. Selective inhibitors of both COX forms have the potential to inhibit colon tumorigenesis, and there is abundant documented evidence of Read More

Understanding of the mechanisms of transplant and xenotransplant rejection represents one of the most important aspects of both basic and clinical immunology. This review discusses the roles of 1) immune response and 2) the influence of various products of arachidonic acid metabolism on immune response in graft survival. The review also includes an overview of novel therapeutic approaches developed to prevent, or a Read More

Regeneration that takes place in the human body is limited throughout life. Therefore, when organs are irreparably damaged, they are usually replaced with an artificial device or donor organ. The term "regenerative medicine" covers the restoration or replacement of cells, tissues, and organs. Stem cells play a major role in regenerative medicine by providing the way to repopulate organs damaged by disease. Stem cell Read More

Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading cause of mortality due to a bacterial pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The reemergence of tuberculosis as a potential public health threat, the high susceptibility of human immunodeficiency virus-infected persons to the disease, and the proliferation of multi-drug-resistant strains have created a need for the development of new antimycobacterial agents. Mycolic acids, th Read More

Antithrombotic therapy has improved the prognosis of patients with venous or arterial thrombosis. However, there is substantial interindividual variability in the response to antithrombotic drugs. This variability is due, in part, to genetics, which may affect the efficacy and safety of drugs used in the treatment and prevention of thrombosis. Pharmacogenetics studies the genetic factors related to interindividual variability in the r Read More

Inflammation is a complex pathological condition associated with exaggerated human immune system involving various activated immune cells and bio-molecules. Treatment of inflammatory diseases perticularly chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease etc. has been a big challenge for scientists as there are no safe drugs available for cure. Current therapeutic approaches to the Read More