title: Targeting the bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide receptor to treat sepsis.
abstract: Sepsis is a complex, multifactorial syndrome that can develop into conditions of different severity, described as septic shock or severe sepsis. In spite of the great progress in understanding the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis and management of sepsis, only a few therapeutic strategies were able to show a decrease in the mortality from septic shock. Although sepsis consists on a systemic inflammatory response, the anti-inflammatory therapies have failed to improve the outcome of critically ill patients. Here the role of gastrin-releasing peptide in immune processes is reviewed and the data that have prompted the recent patent for GRP receptor antagonists RC-3095 as a therapeutic agent on inflammatory conditions are described.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Laboratory, Academic Hospital Research Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, 90035-003 Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Cornelio
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dal-Pizzol
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roesler
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schwartsmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001839:Bombesin / Q000378:metabolism; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010330:Patents as Topic; D018004:Receptors, Bombesin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D018004:Receptors, Bombesin; D019886:Gastrin-Releasing Peptide; D001839:Bombesin