Navigation Links
'Erectile dysfunction' drugs heighten natural anti-cancer activity

mors.

These NO-producing cells, a.k.a. myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), normally use nitric oxide to help bring the immune system back down to surveillance levels after an "attack mode" response to foreign material.

The impotence drugs seem to reverse this process, stopping the production of nitric oxide by MDSCs thereby allowing other immune cells to "see" the cancer and attack it, says Paolo Serafini, Ph.D., a research fellow in Borrello’s laboratory and lead author on the paper.

Nitric oxide is infamous among city dwellers as a component of air-polluting smog, but is gaining importance in medical research for its cell-signaling duties and its ability to divert soldiering T-cells that patrol and protect.

The Hopkins team also analyzed gene expression patterns of the myeloid-derived suppressor cells and found that sildenafil blocked two genes regulating enzymes -- arginase and nitric oxide synthase -- which are key to triggering immune suppression via MDSCs. Borrello’s team found that the arginase enzyme, which metabolizes a dietary supplement called L-arginine, also contributes to dampening the immune system through MDSCs much like nitric oxide, and its production can be reversed by sildenafil.

"Impotence drugs won’t cure cancer," Borello cautioned, "but could be used in addition to standard chemotherapy or immunotherapy treatments."

The investigators are planning human studies to begin in the next year.
'"/>

Source:Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions


Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Molecular machine may lead to new drugs to combat human diseases
2. Researchers identify target for cancer drugs
3. MetaChip provides quick, efficient toxicity screening of potential drugs
4. Newly discovered pathway might help in design of cancer drugs
5. UNC launches study of liver injury caused by drugs
6. Findings have implications for tracking disease, drugs at the molecular level
7. Future diabetes drugs may target new protein interaction
8. UCLA study assesses cost-effectiveness of Hepatitis B drugs
9. Sponges as drugs
10. Newest HIV drugs should be used with FUZEON(R)
11. Recombinant DNA technology may enable oral, rather than injectable, delivery of protein drugs
Post Your Comments: