title: Antioxidant effect of Iloprost: current knowledge and therapeutic implications for systemic sclerosis.
abstract: Many lines of independent research have pointed out the role of oxidative stress as a fascinating pathogenic link between the three main hallmarks of systemic sclerosis (SSc), viz. humoral and cellular immunity activation, microvascular damage and widespread tissue fibrosis. Therefore counteracting oxidative stress may have a favourable impact on clinical features and progression of disease. It is becoming clearer that Iloprost, a synthetic stable analogue of prostacycline, currently employed in the treatment of SSc vascular features, also possess anti-oxidative properties beside its prostaglandin-like vasodilatory and antiaggregant effects. This brief review is aimed to discuss available clinical evidences supporting Iloprost antioxidant action and focus on putative molecular pathways underlying it.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Rheumatology, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy. e.gianluca@libero.it
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Erre
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Passiu
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D016285:Iloprost / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D016285:Iloprost