Drug News & Perspectives 

About: Drug News & Perspectives is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Receptor & Cancer. It has an ISSN identifier of 0214-0934. Over the lifetime, 708 publications have been published receiving 16498 citations.

Role of cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: Cytokines have emerged as crucial players in mediating synovial inflammation in the rheumatoid joint, where the local and systemic production of cytokines appears to account for most of the pathologic and clinical manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis. Among the cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 are considered to be of great importance in the pathogenesis of the disease. Other pro-inflammatory cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis are interleukin-6, interleukin-8, leukemia inhibitory factor, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and transforming growth factor-beta The potent antiinflammatory cytokines interleukin-4 and interleukin-10, which are powerful inhibitors of most of these mediators, seem to be promising agents and candidates for an optimal approach to treatment.

Glutamate in CNS disorders as a target for drug development: an update.

Abstract: The authors provide an extensive review of new data related to the role of glutamate in CNS disorders, describing new aspects in glutamate and glutamatergic receptors-NMDA receptors, NR2B-selective antagonists, non-NMDA ionotropic glutamate receptors, N-acetylaspartylglutamate, and glutamate and glycine transporters. New findings in animal models and in human diseases-stroke, traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, tardive dyskinesia, ALS, olivopontcerebellar degeneration, AIDS, allergic encephalomyelitis, epilepsy, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, liver disease, aminoglycoside antibiotic-induced hearing loss, hemiplegia, chronic pain and drug tolerance and abuse-are presented. Finally, the authors cite the progress achieved in the development of agents that interact with the glutamatergic system: NMDA channel blockers, competitive NMDA receptor antagonists, NR2B-selective antagonists, glutamate release inhibitors, glycineB antagonists, AMPA and kainate receptor antagonists, AMPA receptor-positive modulators and agents that act by modifying endogenous kynurenic acid metabolism.

The value of drug repositioning in the current pharmaceutical market.

Abstract: Drug repositioning is the process of developing new indications for existing drugs or biologics. Increasing interest in drug repositioning has occurred due to sustained high failure rates and costs involved in attempts to bring new drugs to market. It has been estimated that it may cost more than USD 800 million to develop a new drug de novo. In addition, due to regulatory requirements regarding safety, efficacy and quality, the time required to develop a new drug de novo has been estimated to be 10 to 17 years. De novo drug discovery has failed to efficiently supply pharmaceutical company pipelines. A rational approach to drug repositioning may include a cross-disciplinary focus on the elucidation of the mechanisms of disease, allowing matching of disease pathways with appropriately targeted therapeutic agents. Repurposed drugs or biologics have the advantage of decreased development costs and decreased time to launch due to previously collected pharmacokinetic, toxicology and safety data. For these reasons, repurposing should be a primary strategy in drug discovery for every broadly focused, research-based pharmaceutical company.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF): a promising biomarker.

Abstract: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an immunoregulatory cytokine, the effect of which on arresting random immune cell movement was recognized several decades ago. Despite its historic name, MIF also has a direct chemokine-like function and promotes cell recruitment. Multiple clinical studies have indicated the utility of MIF as a biomarker for different diseases that have an inflammatory component; these include systemic infections and sepsis, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. The identification of functional promoter polymorphisms in the MIF gene (MIF) and their association with the susceptibility or severity of different diseases has not only served to validate MIF's role in disease development but also opened the possibility of using MIF genotype information to better predict risk and outcome. In this article, we review the clinical data of MIF and discuss its potential as a biomarker for different disease applications.

The role of cathepsin K in normal bone resorption.

Abstract: Cathepsin K is essential for normal bone resorption; humans lacking cathepsin K exhibit pycnodysostosis, which is characterized by short stature and osteosclerosis. Cathepsin K knockout mice develop osteopetrosis and display features characteristic of pycnodysostosis, and osteoclasts isolated from these mice exhibit impaired bone resorption in vitro. Bone resorption depends upon the synthesis of cathepsin K by osteoclasts and its secretion into the extracellular compartment at the attachment site between osteoclasts and the bone surface, wherein the organic matrix is subsequently degraded by cathepsin K. Factors that directly modulate osteoclastic bone resorption, including cytokines (RANK ligand, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon gamma), hormones (retinoic acid and estrogen) and nuclear transcriptional factors (c-jun and Mitf) also regulate cathepsin K gene expression. Osteoporosis is one of the leading causes of morbidity in the elderly and is characterized by a persistent excess of osteoclastic bone resorption. Therefore, cathepsin K is an attractive target for therapeutic intervention to prevent and ameliorate the significant deleterious impact of osteoporosis.