Linking Chinese medicine and G-protein-coupled receptors.
Following the purification of the immunosuppressant ISP-1 from a Chinese medicine, Japanese scientists have developed a more potent immune modulator, FTY720, that induces T-cell homing. FTY720, a promising immunosuppressant for use in patients with tissue transplants and autoimmune diseases, is currently in clinical trials. Two recent studies have elucidated that the mechanism of action of FTY720 is via a subset of G-protein-coupled receptors for the lysophospholipid mediator sphingosine-1-phosphate.
Im
Dong Soon
DS
Laboratory of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, San 30, Chang-Jun-dong, Keum-Jung-gu, 609-735, Busan, South Korea. imds@pusan.ac.kr
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods*; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D049312:Receptors, Lysophospholipid; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D049312:Receptors, Lysophospholipid; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D013110:Sphingosine