title: PARP inhibitors: new tools to protect from inflammation.
abstract: Poly(ADP-ribosylation) consists in the conversion of β-NAD(+) into ADP-ribose, which is then bound to acceptor proteins and further used to form polymers of variable length and structure. The correct turnover of poly(ADP-ribose) is ensured by the concerted action of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) enzymes, which are responsible for polymer synthesis and degradation, respectively. Despite the positive role of poly(ADP-ribosylation) in sensing and repairing DNA damage, generated also by ROS, PARP over-activation could allow NAD depletion and consequent necrosis, thus leading to an inflammatory condition in many diseases. In this respect, inhibition of PARP enzymes could exert a protective role towards a number of pathological conditions; i.e. the combined treatment of tumors with PARP inhibitors/anticancer agents proved to have a beneficial effect in cancer therapy. Thus, pharmacological inactivation of poly(ADP-ribosylation) could represent a novel therapeutic strategy to limit cellular injury and to attenuate the inflammatory processes that characterize many disorders.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Genetica Molecolare CNR, Via Abbiategrasso 207, I-27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giansanti
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Donà
authors.forename: Micol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tillhon
authors.forename: A Ivana
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Scovassi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000067856:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases