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Inducible receptors
L F Donaldson1, M R Hanley, A C Villablanca
1Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Leicester, UK.
Abstract:
While regulation of receptor function is known to occur at many levels (e.g. transcriptional, post-translational), it is generally perceived that a tissue either expresses or does not express a particular receptor in an all-or-none fashion. Many pathological (e.g. tissue injury) and physiological (e.g. angiogenesis) processes have, however, been shown to be associated with the transcriptional induction of specific receptors. Induced receptors are not confined to any particular class, but range from G protein-coupled receptors to receptor tyrosine kinases. The potential implications of de novo receptor expression are profound with respect to potential novel therapeutic targets in specific disease states. Further, this observation may explain unexpected side-effects in the pharmacotherapy of existing disease states. In this article Lucy Donaldson, Michael Hanley and Amparo Villablanca discuss circumstances under which de novo receptor induction has been described, potential mechanisms of induction and the implications for pharmacology.
Insights
Tissue de novo receptor expression, involving various receptor types, occurs in disease and physiological processes. This finding offers new therapeutic targets and explains unexpected drug side effects.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
- Physiology
Background:
- Receptor expression is typically viewed as an all-or-none phenomenon within a tissue.
- Regulation of receptor function occurs at multiple levels, including transcriptional and post-translational modifications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss circumstances of de novo receptor expression.
- To explore potential mechanisms driving receptor induction.
- To examine the pharmacological implications of induced receptors.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on de novo receptor expression.
- Analysis of pathological and physiological processes associated with receptor induction.
- Discussion of receptor classes affected, including G protein-coupled receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases.
Main Results:
- De novo receptor expression is observed in various physiological (e.g., angiogenesis) and pathological (e.g., tissue injury) conditions.
- Induced receptors span diverse classes, not limited to specific receptor types.
- This phenomenon has significant implications for identifying novel therapeutic targets.
Conclusions:
- De novo receptor expression challenges the traditional all-or-none view of receptor presence in tissues.
- Understanding receptor induction mechanisms can reveal new therapeutic strategies.
- This finding may elucidate unexpected side effects in current pharmacotherapy.