Related Experiment Videos
Transient receptor potential melastatin 2: a novel target for treatment of gout
Zhenyu Zhong1, Yougang Zhai, Liang Qiao
1Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology , 2610 South First Ave, Maywood, IL 60153 , USA lqiao@lumc.edu.
Abstract:
Gout is an ancient autoinflammatory disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by unbearable recurrent pain due to the massive local inflammation caused by the metabolic product, monosodium urate crystals. Although conventional therapies for gout can reduce the pain in patients, the severe undesirable side effects require the urgent need for novel therapies that can more specifically target gout-associated inflammatory pathways. Recent scientific advance on the mechanistic study of gout-associated inflammation is discussed and the potential of targeting the transient receptor potential melastatin 2 is highlighted as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of gout.
Related Concept Videos
Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism
Transducer Mechanism: Enzyme-Linked Receptors
Major types that are helpful drug targets include:
Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Three Subfamilies of Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Ligand-gated ion channels fall into three subfamilies. The 'Cys-loop' includes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. The second one is the 'Pore-loop' channels that include the...
GPCR Desensitization
Targets for Drug Action: Overview
Receptors are either membrane-spanning or intracellular proteins, which upon binding a ligand, get activated and transmit the signal downstream to elicit a response. Drugs bind receptors, either mimicking the action of endogenous ligands or blocking the receptor activity to bring about a modified response. Nearly 35% of approved drugs target the G...
Non-gated Ion Channels
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.