Bioinformatics and Genomics Gateway

Mechanism for fibrogenic effects of adenosine

Adenosine promotion of dermal fibrosis in conditions such as scleroderma is mediated by the transcription factor Fli1 and growth factor CTFG, highlighting potential targets for future anti-fibrotic therapies.

PDE4 inhibitors: clinical progress

Phosphodiesterase (PDE) 4-targeted therapies are a promising option to treat a range of autoimmune diseases; Alice Gottlieb and colleagues review the development of PDE4 inhibitors for chronic conditions and discuss recent clinical trial data.

Label-free sorting of opioid ligands is right on-target

A label-free integrative pharmacology on-target (iPOT) approach systematically surveys a library of opioid ligands against the opioid receptor family and effectively sorts them into distinct clusters based on their binding and functional selectivity.

Statins reduce testosterone levels

According to a meta-analysis, treatment with statins, a drug commonly prescribed to patients at risk of cardiovascular disease, can reduce testosterone levels in both men and women, although the cause for this needs to be determined by further studies.

Effective combined diabetes therapy

In a 102 week trial, addition of dapagliflozin to metformin therapy for type 2 diabetes patients was effective for glycemic control in those who are inadequately controlled by metformin alone, suggesting a novel therapeutic option for those requiring long-term management.