Authors: Liu, Lizhi; Huq, Summon; Xu, Weiming

Source: Current Signal Transduction Therapy, Volume 4, Number 1, January 2009 , pp. 66-75(10)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Cyclooxygenase (COX) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) are two isoenzyme families that both implicated in the inflammatory process. Indeed, the activities of both enzymes are so important that two of the most important classic drugs, Aspirin and Nitroglycerin, are directly related to the COX pathway and NO pathway, respectively. Although Aspirin has been used as an anti-inflammatory drug since 1876, it was not until 1970s that its action has been shown to be involved in inhibition of the Cox enzyme, being a class of drugs known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs). This signaling pathway has led to extensive research led by a number of pharmaceutical companies in the race to make more effective anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and colecoxib to name but a few. Similarly, the nitroglycerin has been used to treat angina more than a hundred years, it's only until late 1980s its drug action by releasing nitric oxide gas have been recognized. There are not however, many anti-inflammatory drugs that specially target NOS or more specifically, iNOS, although there are various studies and trial that are investigating the effect of iNOS inhibition in various inflammatory conditions such as sepsis and other chronic illness including cancer. More recently, COX pathway has been found to be regulated by NO pathway and therapeutic potentials of NO-releasing aspirin hybrid drugs has been developed. In this review, we will discuss both pathways and their cross talk and pharmaceutical potentials for future therapeutic development based on these signaling transduction pathways.

Keywords: Cyclooxygenase; NSAIDs; prostaglandin; nitric oxide; iNOS; septic shock

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157436209787048702

Publication date: 2009-01-01

More about this publication?

• In recent years a breakthrough has occurred in our understanding of the molecular pathomechanisms of human diseases whereby most of our diseases are related to intra and intercellular communication disorders. The concept of signal transduction therapy has got into the front line of modern drug research, and a multidisciplinary approach is being used to identify and treat signaling disorders.
  
  The aim of this journal is to publish timely in-depth reviews as well as original papers in the field of signal transduction therapy. Thematic issues will also be published to cover selected areas of signal transduction therapy. Coverage of the field will include genomics, proteomics, medicinal chemistry and the relevant diseases involved in signaling e.g. cancer, neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases.
  
  Current Signal Transduction Therapy is an essential journal for all involved in drug design and discovery.

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