title: New target against inflammatory diseases: transglutaminase 2.
abstract: Transglutaminase (TGase)2 is an enzyme that is widely used in many biological systems for generic tissue stabilization or immediate defense for wounds. Many reports showed that TGase 2 is aberrantly activated in tissues and cells and contributes to a variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases and autoimmune diseases. In most cases, TGase 2 appears to be a factor in the formation of inappropriate proteinaceous aggregates that may be cytotoxic. However, in other cases, such as celiac disease, arthritis, lupus, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, TGase 2 is involved in the generation of autoantibodies. This suggests the possibility that inappropriate expression and/or presentation of TGase 2 to T cells might contribute to these diseases in genetically predisposed individuals. We and others have found that TGase 2 expression is also increased in the inflammation process. Furthermore, we also demonstrated a reversal of inflammation by Tgase inhibition. This review will examine a possibility of TGase inhibitors as therapeutic agents in a variety of inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY 10605, USA. tgase@hanmail.net
authors.forename: Soo-Youl
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009220:Myositis / Q000188:drug therapy; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D011503:Transglutaminases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins