title: Targeting 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is an unmet therapeutic need for the anti-inflammatory therapies, and the identification of therapeutic targets and potent corresponding therapies is necessary. Although inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene modifiers are most effective in asthma they are still not always capable of appropriately controlling the disease. In COPD, the therapeutic gap is even larger because inhaled corticosteroids and other anti-inflammatory therapies are not beneficial in all disease subsets.
  
  
  METHODS
  The role of the 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) in generating proinflammatory molecules such as leukotrienes is discussed, highlighting, in particular, its potential as a therapeutic target in asthma and COPD. The preclinical data on FLAP inhibitors are discussed. The clinical data on the FLAP inhibitors investigated so far for these diseases are analyzed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FLAP inhibitors have emerged during the past decade as a promising therapeutic class in asthma and COPD, but there exists only a limited amount of data supporting their efficacy in these diseases. This might be due to the fact that the development of some of the molecules discussed was abandoned. Such therapies might be of particular interest in COPD and in asthma-COPD overlap syndrome.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Pharmacy Grigore T Popa Iasi, Interdisciplinary Medicine , 16 Universitatii Str, Iasi, 700115 , Romania sabinaantoniu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sabina Antonela
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Antoniu
mesh_terms: D058946:5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Protein Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058927:5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D058946:5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Protein Inhibitors; D058927:5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Proteins; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents
keywords: 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein; airways; asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; inflammation; internal medicine