From motilin to motilides: a new direction in gastrointestinal endocrinology.
Investigation into gastrointestinal irritation from the use of erythromycin lead to the discovery of the gastrointestinal motor effect of this antibiotic. Erythromycin and gastrointestinal peptide motilin share many similar gastrokinetic activities, and studies indicate that erythromycin mimics the effect of motilin through motilin receptor agonism. Since erythromycin is readily available for clinical use, it may offer an alternative therapeutic approach to gastroparesis and related conditions. Several analogs of erythromycin without antimicrobial activity are also shown to possess similar motor effects, thus termed "motilides". A growing number of motilides may expand our knowledge on gastrointestinal peptides.
Ishikawa
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75235-8858, USA.
Raskin
P
P