Inflammatory Disease

Impaired inflammatory and pain responses in mice lacking an inducible prostagladin E synthase. Trebino, C. E. et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci USA 2003 Jun 30 (doi:10.1073/pnas.1332766100)

The anti-inflammatory effects of aspirin and related drugs — which block the production of prostaglandin H2 (PGH2), the common source of prostaglandins — are thought at least in part to be due to reduction in the levels of PGE2. However, the loss of other PGs can result in side-effects such as ulceration. Here, mice lacking microsomal PGE synthase 1 (mPGES1), which synthesizes PGE2 from PGH2, were found to be healthy and fertile, but showed markedly reduced inflammatory responses, indicating that mPGES1 might be an attractive target.

AntiCancer Drugs

Regression of established tumors and metastases by potent vascular endothelial growth factor blockade. Huang, J. et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci USA 100, 7785–7790 (2003)

The key role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in blood-vessel growth during tumorigenesis has led to the investigation of VEGF blockade as a strategy for impeding cancer progression. Using a soluble decoy receptor for VEGF, Huang et al. show that blockade of VEGF might not only halt tumour growth but also produce regression, and so might be effective in patients with bulky, metastatic cancers, as well as those with minimal residual disease.

Cardiovascular Disease

MRC/BHF Heart Protection Study of cholesterol-lowering with simvastatin in 5963 people with diabetes: a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Heart Protection Study Collaborative Group. Lancet 361, 2005–2016 (2003)

People with diabetes have a higher risk of cardiovascular events, but their plasma cholesterol concentrations are typically similar to those in the general population, and they do not usually receive cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as statins. This study reports that simvastatin reduced the rate of first major vascular events in a wide range of diabetic patients by about a quarter, indicating that statin therapy should be routinely considered in such cases.

Anti-Allergic Drugs

SOCS-3 regulates onset and maintenance of TH2-mediated allergic responses. Seki, Y. et al. Nature Med. 2003 Jun 29 (doi:10.1038/nm896)

Members of the suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) family are thought to alter the balance of cytokines regulating the onset of TH1- and TH2-mediated immune responses. The authors show that SOCS-3 expression correlates with the pathology of TH2-mediated allergic immune diseases such as asthma, suggesting that it could be a new target for these conditions.