Recent developments in CCR3 antagonists.
Selective eosinophil recruitment into inflammatory sites and their subsequent activation is a characteristic of allergic diseases, such as asthma, rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. CC chemokine receptor-3 (CCR3) is the principal mediator of eosinophil chemotaxis and is expressed on a variety of inflammatory cells associated with allergic responses; these cells include basophils, mast cells and T-helper-2 lymphocytes, and resident tissue cells such as airway epithelium. Animal studies suggest that CCR3 is a prominent mediator of allergic responses and that antagonizing the receptor will lead to a reduction in airway inflammation. The potential importance of CCR3 in allergic inflammation has made this receptor a target for drug development. This review summarizes the efforts in this research area that have been reported in the last two years.
De Lucca
George V
GV
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co, Pharmaceutical Research Institute, PO Box 4000, Princeton, NJ 08543-4000, USA. george.delucca@bms.com
D000818:Animals; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D054397:Receptors, CCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*
C515350:CCR3 protein, human; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D054397:Receptors, CCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine