Novel Cytokine Inhibitors

Cytokines have become established as key mediators of the signs andsymptoms of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, dermatitis, asthmaand multiple sclerosis. Furthermore, they are involved in the cascade ofevents leading to cardiovascular shock and are major regulators of thefunction of immune cells.This book reviews recent advances in the development of newanti-inflammatory drugs. It addresses different therapeutic interventionpossibilities for new drugs, such as the cellular source of cytokines,specific receptors which induce cytokine synthesis, intracellularregulators of cytokine gene induction and expression, secretion andactivation of cytokines, cytokine receptors and signalling pathways fromthese receptors. Accordingly, experts were drawn from differentbackgrounds including academic research institutes, the pharmaceuticalindustry and clinical pharmacology. In each area, the opportunities fordrug development are highlighted and, where possible, clinical data isreviewed.