Cytokines have become established as key mediators of the signs andsymptoms of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, dermatitis, asthmaand multiple sclerosis. Furthermore, they are involved in the cascade ofevents leading to cardiovascular shock and are major regulators of thefunction of immune cells. This book reviews recent advances in the development of newanti-inflammatory drugs. It addresses different therapeutic interventionpossibilities for new drugs, such as the cellular source of cytokines, specific receptors which induce cytokine synthesis, intracellularregulators of cytokine gene induction and expression, secretion andactivation of cytokines, cytokine receptors and signalling pathways fromthese receptors. Accordingly, experts were drawn from differentbackgrounds including academic research institutes, the pharmaceuticalindustry and clinical pharmacology. In each area, the opportunities fordrug development are highlighted and, where possible, clinical data isreviewed.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Targets for modulating cytokine responses in inflammatory and infectious diseases. - Cell signaling and cytokine induction by lipopolysaccharide. - Regulation of cytokine production by inhibitors of cell signalling. - Oligonucleotide-based drugs in the control of cytokine synthesis. - Inhibiting cytokine-processing enzymes. - Cytokine-neutralizing therapeutic antibodies. - The debut of anti-TNF therapy of rheumatoid arthritis in the clinic. - Blockade of cytokine activity by soluble cytokine receptors. - Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist. - Therapeutic regulation of cytokine signalling by inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. - TGF? and IL-10: inhibitory cytokines regulating immunity and the response to infection. - Therapeutic control of cytokines: lessons from microorganisms.
