Proximal signaling molecules as potential targets for anti-inflammatory therapy.

As a consequence of the limited efficacy and significant toxicity of current anti-inflammatory therapies, there is widespread interest in the development of novel drugs for this application. Progress in our understanding of inflammatory signaling pathways has identified novel targets, notably in pathways involving mitogen-activated protein kinases and T-cell receptor signaling. Recent observations have provided molecular insight into the mechanism of action of well-established anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs, such as glucocorticoids and azathioprine, and the anti-inflammatory small molecule semapimod (Cytokine PharmaSciences Inc). Data from these studies indicate that therapeutic agents which specifically target proximal signaling molecules might represent a powerful strategy for combating inflammatory diseases.