"Nuclear receptors are a family of transcription factors consisting of 49 members identified in the human genome. Nuclear receptors regulate transcription by binding to response elements in the regulatory regions of target genes and thereby affect expression of genes involved in differentiation, growth, lipid homeostasis, inflammation and immunity. This volume reviews recent progress on nuclear receptors critically and will intrigue those pursuing interest in physiology, pathology and medicine."--BOOK JACKET.
Nuclear receptors are a family of transcription factors consisting of 49 members identified in the human genome. Nuclear receptors regulate transcription by binding to response elements in the regulatory regions of target genes and thereby affect expression of genes involved in differentiation, growth, lipid homeostasis, inflammation and immunity. Over the past two decades significant advances have been made in the understanding of the regulation of gene expression by nuclear receptors. The knowledge on nuclear receptors has delivered novel therapies for lipid control and hormone replacement, and for management of cancer and diabetes. Therefore, nuclear receptors are attractive molecular targets for design of therapy for diabetes, obesity, atherosclerosis, cancer, inflammation and neurodegeneration. The focus of this volume is centered on the mechanistic involvement of nuclear receptors in cardiological, metabolic and neurological disorders, on possible explanation of pathways involved in pathogenesis, on susceptibility to and prevention of metabolic and neurological disorders and on the aspects of drug finding including chemistry and rational drug design. This volume reviews recent progress on nuclear receptors critically and will intrigue those pursuing interest in physiology, pathology and medicine.
Pulmonary hypertension is a fatal lung and heart disease. It is characterized by shortness of breath, fatigue and fainting. It is exacerbated by an increase of the pressure in the lung vasculature through exercise, leading to progressive worsening of hemodynamics, right ventricular hypertrophy, right heart insufficiency and finally right heart failure. This book focuses on pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare and progressive subgroup of pulmonary hypertension, which is today incurable and terminally faal. Classification of pulmonary arterial hypertension, its pathology, and strategies for future therapy will be of interest both to those suffering from the disease and those who take care of patients. This volume will also engage physicians and other scientists contributing to an understanding of the pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension and attempting to extend life of humans with pulmonary arterial hypertension by developing causal and curative therapies.
Edited by two experts working at the pioneering pharmaceutical company and major global player in hormone-derived drugs, this handbook and reference systematically treats the drug development aspects of all human nuclear receptors, including recently characterized receptors such as PPAR, FXR and LXR. Authors from leading pharmaceutical companies around the world present examples and real-life data from their own work.
Written by experts and specialized investigators, this book presents a detailed overview of the recent progress in our understanding of the adrenal cortex and its pivotal roles in homeostasis. Genes, molecules and cell compartments directly or indirectly involved in the complex steroidogenesis pathway as well as the resulting end-hormones glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids and androgens are analyzed. Furthermore, the defects of the genes responsible both for common and rare adrenal disorders are presented. The interactions of the adrenal cortices with the adrenal medulla and their importance in the integration of adrenocortical and adrenomedullary function are discussed. The complex molecular pathophysiology of congenital adrenal hyperplasia is presented; long-term effects of the disorder and the still controversial antenatal therapy are examined. Finally, expert review chapters discuss autoimmune Addison disease and the adrenoleukodystrophy/adrenomyeloneuropathy syndrome.Presenting novel research findings in adrenal gland physiology and pathophysiology, this book is a useful tool not only for pediatric endocrinologists, but also for clinicians and researchers studying human development, organogenesis, mitochondrial biology, nuclear receptors, stress biology and pharmacology.
This book highlights the important role free fatty acids (FFA) play as potential drug targets. While FFA have long been considered byproducts of cell metabolism, they are now recognized as ligands that regulate cell and tissue function via G-protein-coupled receptors. At least three receptors have been identified for which FFA appear to be the endogenous ligands.
This report considers the biological and behavioral mechanisms that may underlie the pathogenicity of tobacco smoke. Many Surgeon General's reports have considered research findings on mechanisms in assessing the biological plausibility of associations observed in epidemiologic studies. Mechanisms of disease are important because they may provide plausibility, which is one of the guideline criteria for assessing evidence on causation. This report specifically reviews the evidence on the potential mechanisms by which smoking causes diseases and considers whether a mechanism is likely to be operative in the production of human disease by tobacco smoke. This evidence is relevant to understanding how smoking causes disease, to identifying those who may be particularly susceptible, and to assessing the potential risks of tobacco products.
