neuropeptide receptors novel targets for hivaids therapeutics条件疗法中神经肽受体新目标.pdfVIP

Pharmaceuticals 2011, 4, 485-493; doi:10.3390/ph4030485 OPEN ACCESS pharmaceuticals ISSN 1424-8247 /journal/pharmaceuticals Opinion Neuropeptide Receptors: Novel Targets for HIV/AIDS Therapeutics Donald R. Branch 1,2,3 1 Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M1, Canada; E-Mail: don.branch@utoronto.ca; Tel.: +1-416-313-4458; Fax: +1-416-974-9757 2 Department Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M1, Canada 3 Research Development, Toronto Immunology Hub, Canadian Blood Services, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M1, Canada Received: 3 February 2011; in revised form: 4 March 2011 / Accepted: 7 March 2011 / Published: 9 March 2011 Abstract: The vasoactive intestinal peptide/pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypepetide (VPAC) receptors are important for many physiologic functions, including glucose homeostasis, neuroprotection, memory, gut function, modulation of the immune system and circadian function. In addition, VPAC receptors have been shown to function in vitro to modulate the infection of HIV by a signal transduction pathway that appears to regulate viral integration. In this article, the affects of VPAC stimulation on HIV infection will be reviewed and approaches for the development of HIV/AIDS therapeutics that target these receptors will be described. Novel HIV/AIDS therapeutics are urgently required to stem the continued spread of this disease, particularly in underdeveloped countries. Drug design to inhibit signaling