Advances in cathepsin S inhibitor design.

Abstract

Cathepsin S is expressed in antigen-presenting cells and plays a role in invariant chain processing and major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) antigen presentation leading to CD4+ T-cell activation. An oral cathepsin S inhibitor that blocks MHCII antigen presentation could result in a T-cell-selective immunosuppressant agent with improved safety over the current standard of care for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune-based inflammatory diseases. This review focuses on advances in cathepsin S inhibitor utility and design since January of 2004.

• Authors: John O Link, Sheila Zipfel
• Journal: Current opinion in drug discovery & development (Curr Opin Drug Discov Devel) Vol. 9 Issue 4 Pg. 471-82 (Jul 2006) ISSN: 1367-6733 [Print] England
• PMID: 16889230 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Cathepsins
• cathepsin S

Topics

• Animals
• Autoimmune Diseases (drug therapy, enzymology)
• Cathepsins (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
• Drug Design
• Enzyme Inhibitors (chemistry, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Technology, Pharmaceutical (methods, trends)