Abstract
Because there are no particular molecular signatures of self, autoimmunity is the inevitable evolutionary price of being able to make effective responses against a wide variety of pathogens by the immune system. Without the various phenomena referred to as immune tolerance, the organism would surely self-destruct. Considerable evidence suggests that various endogenous neuropeptides play a major role in the education of our immune system to be self-tolerant. The fact that neuropeptides regulate various layers involved in maintenance of tolerance, including regulation of the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses and between self-reactive Th1/Th17 cells and regulatory T cells, makes them attractive candidates for the development of new therapies for the treatment of autoimmune disorders. Here we use the vasoactive intestinal peptide of a prototype of immunomodulatory neuropeptide to review the most relevant data found for other neuropeptides with similar characteristics, including melanocyte-stimulating hormone, urocortin, adrenomedullin, neuropeptide Y, cortistatin and ghrelin. We also evaluate the challenges that must be overcome before achieving their clinical application and offer our opinion on how a physiologically functional neuropeptide system contributes to general health.
Keywords: Autoimmunity, Neuropeptide, Inflammation, Tolerance, Regulatory T cells, Dendritic cells, Neuroimmunology
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Neuropeptides as Therapeutic Approach to Autoimmune Diseases
Volume: 16 Issue: 28
Author(s): Elena Gonzalez-Rey, Virginia Delgado-Maroto, Luciana Souza-Moreira and Mario Delgado
Affiliation:
Keywords: Autoimmunity, Neuropeptide, Inflammation, Tolerance, Regulatory T cells, Dendritic cells, Neuroimmunology
Abstract: Because there are no particular molecular signatures of self, autoimmunity is the inevitable evolutionary price of being able to make effective responses against a wide variety of pathogens by the immune system. Without the various phenomena referred to as immune tolerance, the organism would surely self-destruct. Considerable evidence suggests that various endogenous neuropeptides play a major role in the education of our immune system to be self-tolerant. The fact that neuropeptides regulate various layers involved in maintenance of tolerance, including regulation of the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses and between self-reactive Th1/Th17 cells and regulatory T cells, makes them attractive candidates for the development of new therapies for the treatment of autoimmune disorders. Here we use the vasoactive intestinal peptide of a prototype of immunomodulatory neuropeptide to review the most relevant data found for other neuropeptides with similar characteristics, including melanocyte-stimulating hormone, urocortin, adrenomedullin, neuropeptide Y, cortistatin and ghrelin. We also evaluate the challenges that must be overcome before achieving their clinical application and offer our opinion on how a physiologically functional neuropeptide system contributes to general health.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Gonzalez-Rey Elena, Delgado-Maroto Virginia, Souza-Moreira Luciana and Delgado Mario, Neuropeptides as Therapeutic Approach to Autoimmune Diseases, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2010; 16 (28) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161210793292465
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161210793292465 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Recent Patents Concerning Modulators of Protein Kinase C
Recent Patents on DNA & Gene Sequences The Potential of Selected Prostanoid Receptors as Targets in a New Therapeutic Strategy for Allergy and Immune Diseases
Current Drug Safety HMGB-1 as a Target for Inflammation Controlling
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery Pharmacological Targeting of IDO-Mediated Tolerance for Treating Autoimmune Disease
Current Drug Metabolism Micro- and Nano-particulate Strategies for Antigen Specific Immune Tolerance to Treat Autoimmune Diseases
Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Migraine in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets New Analytical Tools for Studying Autoimmune Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design Autoimmunity-Inducing Metals (Hg, Au and Ag) Modulate Mast Cell Signaling, Function and Survival
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Role of STATs in Inflammation and Inflammatory Diseases
Current Pharmaceutical Design NF-κB, a Potential Therapeutic Target for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets The Roles of MicroRNAs in Atherosclerosis
Current Medicinal Chemistry Guar Gum and HPMC Coated Colon Targeted Delivery of 6-Mercapto-Purine
The Natural Products Journal The Prevalence of the Classical and Non-Classical Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets PCR/SSCP Detects Reliably and Efficiently DNA Sequence Variations in Large Scale Screening Projects
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Roles of Glycans and Glycopeptides in Immune System and Immune-Related Diseases
Current Medicinal Chemistry Naturally Arising CD25+CD4+ Regulatory T Cells in Maintaining Immunologic Self-Tolerance and Preventing Autoimmune Disease
Current Molecular Medicine An Unusual Presentation of a Rare Scleroderma Mimic: What is Behind the Scenes?
Current Rheumatology Reviews Molecular Mimicry in Autoimmune Neurological Disease after Viral Infection
Current Medicinal Chemistry Vitamin D: Evolutionary, Physiological and Health Perspectives
Current Drug Targets Specific Biologic Therapy with Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors in Patients with Inflammatory Myopathy
Current Rheumatology Reviews