title: Semaphorins and plexins as therapeutic targets.
abstract: Semaphorins are membrane-bound or diffusible factors that regulate key cellular functions and are involved in cell-cell communication. Most of the effects of semaphorins are mediated by plexins. Work over the past decade has revealed crucial functions of the semaphorin-plexin system in mammalian physiology. It has also become clear that semaphorins and plexins have important roles in many pathophysiological processes, including cancer, immunological diseases and bone disorders, and that they represent novel targets for drugs to prevent or treat various diseases. This Review summarizes the functions of the mammalian semaphorin-plexin system as well as its role in diseases and discusses emerging strategies to pharmacologically target semaphorin-plexin signalling.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Pharmacology, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Ludwigstr. 43, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany. [2] Institute of Pharmacology, University of Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 1, 35043 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Worzfeld
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Pharmacology, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Ludwigstr. 43, 61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany. [2] Medical Faculty, J.W. Goethe University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Offermanns
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D039961:Semaphorins / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D039961:Semaphorins; C091529:plexin
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