Thiol Proteases: Inhibitors and Potential Therapeutic Targets

Authors: Leung-Toung, Regis; Zhao, Yanqing; Li, Wanren; Tam, Tim F.; Karimian, Khashayar; Spino, Michael

Source: Current Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 13, Number 5, March 2006 , pp. 547-581(35)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

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Abstract:

A better understanding of the biological roles and the pathological consequences of thiol-dependent enzymes has emerged in recent years, and hence considerable progress has been made in identifying and delineating cysteine proteases that can be considered promising drug targets from those involved in housekeeping functions. Cysteine proteases have been implicated in a wide variety of disease processes ranging from cardiovascular, inflammatory, viral and immunological disorders to cancer.

The first milestone in drug development of cysteine protease inhibitors has probably been reached, as IDN-6556 (a broad spectrum caspase inhibitor) has recently received Orphan Drug label by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment of the patients undergoing liver transplantation and other solid organ transplantation. IDN-6556, which blocks apoptosis, is in Phase II human clinical trial in patients undergoing liver transplantation. In addition, more than ten cysteine protease inhibitors are presently at various phases of clinical development/trials for diverse diseases.

This review emphasises on the new development from the literature reports since the year 2000 in the exploration of potential cysteine proteases as prospective drug targets, and the investigation of promising inhibitors that can potentially be developed for the treatment of human diseases. Transglutaminases, another class of thiol-dependent enzymes, are not discussed here.

Keywords: Cysteine proteases; cathepsins; calpain; caspase; rhinovirus-3C and SARS-CoV 3CLpro

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986706776055733

Affiliations: 1: Medicinal Chemistry Department, Apotex Research, Inc., 400 Ormont Drive, Toronto, Ontario M9L 1N9, Canada.

Publication date: 2006-03-01

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Current Medicinal Chemistry covers all the latest and outstanding developments in medicinal chemistry and rational drug design. Each issue contains a series of timely in-depth reviews written by leaders in the field covering a range of the current topics in medicinal chemistry. Current Medicinal Chemistry is an essential journal for every medicinal chemist who wishes to be kept informed and up-to-date with the latest and most important developments.

Thiol Proteases: Inhibitors and Potential Therapeutic Targets

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