Caspases – a Target of Intervention in the Diseases That Are Still Difficult to Treat
Authors:
L. Beneš; M. Benešová 1
Authors‘ workplace:
Ústav chemických léčiv Farmaceutické fakulty Veterinární a Farmaceutické Univerzity, Brno 1 Katedra bunkovej a molekulárnej biológie liečiv Farmaceutickej fakulty Univerzity Komenského, Bratislava
Published in:
Čes. slov. Farm., 2004; , 18-26
Category:
Overview
The central role in apoptosis, which is a precondition of the normal development of the organism,as played by caspases, a family of highly specific cystein proteases. Caspases released from procaspasesin a certain surplus induce apoptosis, with simultaneous cleavage of some cellular proteinsessential for cellular growth. Caspase activity (initiative or effector one) is the resultant and finalphysiological as well as pathological stimulus, in which impairment of the cell membranes, functionof mitochondria and other organelles, and also DNA takes place. The interest is focused on caspasesinhibitors, which could influence, at some stages, some diseases which are difficult to control orwhich are still untreatable (tumours, neurodegenerative diseases, viral liver diseases, inflammatorydiseases). The caspases family includes 14 enzymes, the best examined ones being caspase-1 andcaspase-3. The therapeutically usable protease inhibitors include, for the time being, serine proteasesand some metaloproteases, whereas the inhibitors of cysteine proteases have not been introducedinto practice yet. Synthesis of caspases inhibitors, in particularly those of non-peptidic character,the so-called small molecules, is one of the strategic aims of contemporary research of the treatmentof the above-mentioned diseases.
Key words:
apoptosis – caspases – caspases inhibitors – therapeutic possibilities
Labels
Pharmacy Clinical pharmacologyArticle was published in
Czech and Slovak Pharmacy
2004 Issue 1
Most read in this issue
- Selection of the Extraction Agent and the Elaboration of the Technology of the Productionof an Extract with a Sedative Effect
- Š. K. Zeidler (1620–1989) on Drugs
- Effect of a Dose of Acetylcholinesterase Reactivators on Their Efficiency in the Therapyof Tabun Poisoning in Mice
- Caspases – a Target of Intervention in the Diseases That Are Still Difficult to Treat