1,721,092 research outputs found
CELL GROWTH AND CHOLESTEROL ESTERS
No full textIn recent years, understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in
intracellular cholesterol homeostasis has radically changed to include an
increasing number of structurally diverse receptors and carriers. The latest
additions have led to the implication of cholesterol in fundamental cell functions
such as cellular signaling and growth regulation. It appears that, at
least in some instances, adaptive regulation of cholesterol metabolism does
not protect cells indefinitely. Changes in this fine homeostatic regulation
may occur leading to pathologic consequences. The challenge of this book
has been to provide a useful point of reference on the mechanisms that
link cholesterol esters to cell growth and division. Particular attention has
been dedicated to the alterations in cholesterol esterification in two important
proliferative processes such as cancer and atherosclerosis.
The data presented in this book provide in vivo and in vitro evidence
of a strong relationship between cholesterol esterification and rate of cell
proliferation, and suggest that changes in the cholesterol esterification pathway
might represent fundamental events in developmental growth processes.
Although much progress has been made in tumor and atherosclerosis research,
and remarkable therapeutic successes have been achieved in both
these pathologies, several questions on the mechanisms underlying changes
in cholesterol metabolism and cell proliferation remain to be answered. Therefore,
the data acquire particular significance in view of the possibility that
the overall process of cholesterol esterification could play a key role in regulating
cell proliferation.
We hope that this book provides valuable information not only for
physicians, but also for teachers and students. As for the Editors, we would
like to look at this book as a milestone of a path started some seven years ago
when two friends, even though not so young any more, still deeply fascinated
by science and the potentiality of biology, put together their scientific
competence to face important matters such as the pharmacological control
of pathological proliferative processes from a novel perspective.
Alessandra Pani
Sandra Dessi
Anti-HIV-1 integrase drugs:how far from the shelf?
No full textChemotherapy of HIV-I infection/AIDS currently employs inhibitors of two products of the viral pol gene, the reverse transcriptase acid protease enzymes. However, a third product of the pol gene is essential for retroviral multiplication, the integrase. As no cellular homologue of HIV integrase has been described, potential inhibitors could be relatively nontoxic. Development of HIV-1 integrase inhibitors could have favorable implication for combination therapy, including potential synergy with currently available inhibitors, as well as prevention of the chronic carrier state and the emergence of resistant mutants. Although several classes of putative integrase inhibitors that been described, still no clinically useful anti-integration drugs are available. It is the structural and functional complexity of the integration process together with the limitations of the available in vitro assays that has made it problematic to develop inhibitors of the HIV integrase. In this review we summarize current knowledge concerning the biology of this enzyme and of the integration process, and discuss major classes representatives of integrase inhibitors considering the obstacles to the development of true anti-integrase drugs
Therapeutical compositions having anti-HIV activity consisting of 2', 3'-didesoxyadenosine and substances inhibiting adenosine deaminase.
No full textTherapeutical compositions, having enhanced anti-HIV activity consisting of 2', 3'-didesoxy-
adenosine and of substances inhibiting the adenosine-deaminase selected from the group
consisting of 9-(erythro-2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine (EHNA), 3-deaza-EHNA, coformycin,
desoxycoformycin, 1-deaza-EHNA, 1, 3-dideaza-EHNA and 7-deaza-EHNA
Comparative efficacy of nucleoside analogues against African Swine Fever virus "in vitro"
No full textGlycyrrhizic acid inhibits virus growth and inactivates virus particles
No full textScreening investigations in antiviral action of plant extracts have revealed that a component of Glycyrrhiza glabra roots, found to be glycyrrhizie acid, is active against viruses. We report here that this drug inhibits growth and cytopathology of several unrelated DNA and RNA viruses, while not affecting cell activity and ability to replicate. In addition, glycyrrhizic acid inactivates herpes simplex virus particles irreversibly
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