Title:Strategies for Leukotriene Modulation in Dermatology: Even More Visionary Perspectives? An Update
VOLUME: 10 ISSUE: 6
Author(s):Giovanni Luigi Capella
Affiliation:Private Practice, Dermatology & STD, Via Sauli 7, 20127 Milan, Italy.
Keywords:Leukotriene antagonist, Leukotriene receptor blocking agent, Lipoxygenase inhibitor, Platelet
activating factor, Prostaglandin, Lipoxin, Skin diseases, Sjogren-Larsson syndrome, HISTAMINE-RECEPTOR, ANTI-LEUKO-TRIENE BOTANY.
Abstract:In the last decade, substantial progress has been made in the study of eicosanoid autacoids, such as
leukotrienes [LTs], which were already known to be heavily involved in inflammatory skin processes. The
subject has extended from the detailed description of 5-lipoxygenase cascade products and regulation to the
discovery of detailed interrelations among LT physiology and apparently loosely related fields such as
peroxisome-proliferating activating receptors (PPARs), pro-resolving mediators, control of fibrosing
processes, and nuclear signalling. Many of these advances clearly present aspects which could be relevant to
experimental and clinical dermatology. Surprisingly enough, and unfortunately due at least in part to
restrictive policies in off-label use of drugs all over the world, the use of available LT modulators in dermatology
has remained the same as ten years ago, with the significant but marginal exception of Sjögren-Larsson
syndrome. From a dermatological viewpoint, the state of the art is far from desirable. A survey of relevant
advances, with special regards to medicinal chemistry topics related to anti-inflammatory intervention is
provided, together with visionary proposals for future, substantial improvement in the management of patients
suffering from inflammatory skin diseases, in which LT-related pathogenetic and resolving mechanism play
so important a role.
