Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.23.5 (cathepsin D)
 4,130 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Encoded by the HIV genome are several precursor proteins that undergo proteolytic cleavage to yield functional proteins. The env precursor protein is cleaved by a cellular protease. The gag precursor protein of HIV (p55), however, is cleaved by a virally encoded aspartate protease (HIV Protease). Cleavage of p55 is required for viral maturation and infectivity. There are also several host cell aspartate proteases that serve important homeostatic functions. Cathepsins D and E are lysosomal aspartate proteases which are believed to play an important role in macrophage function, and it has been suggested that inhibition of these enzymes by an HIV protease inhibitor may exacerbate immunosuppression in AIDS patients. We have studied the effect of SK&F 107461 (a hydroxyethylene dipeptide isostere inhibitor of HIV protease), on various host defense functions of human monocytes. Pepstatin A (an inhibitor of most aspartate proteases) and leupeptin (an inhibitor of serine and cysteine proteases) were included as controls. Although less potent than the prototypic aspartate protease inhibitor pepstatin, SK&F 107461 inhibited partially purified cathepsin D in vitro. However, in cell-based assays, SK&F 107461 had no effect on the degradation of hemoglobin, antigen processing of the protein antigen streptokinase, or secretion of 17-kD IL-1 beta by monocytes at concentrations which inhibit maturation of intracellular virus in HIV infected monocytes. Furthermore, SK&F 107461 had no effect on constitutive candidacidal activity. In contrast, leupeptin and pepstatin A partially inhibited accessory cell function of monocytes in the proliferative response to the recall antigen streptokinase. In addition, leupeptin partially inhibited degradation of hemoglobin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Effect of a human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitor on human monocyte function. 149 45

DMP 323 is a potent inhibitor of the protease of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), with antiviral activity against both HIV type 1 and HIV type 2. This compound is representative of a class of small, novel, nonpeptide cyclic urea inhibitors of HIV protease that were designed on the basis of three-dimensional structural information and three-dimensional database searching. We report here studies of the kinetics of DMP 323 inhibition of the cleavage of peptide and HIV-1 gag polyprotein substrates. DMP 323 acts as a rapidly binding, competitive inhibitor of HIV protease. DMP 323 is as potent against both peptide and viral polyprotein substrates as A-80987, Q8024, and Ro-31-8959, which are among the most potent inhibitors of HIV protease described in the literature to date. Incubation with human plasma or serum did not decrease the effective potency of DMP 323 for HIV protease, suggesting that plasma protein binding is of a low affinity relative to that of HIV protease. DMP 323 was also assessed for its ability to inhibit the mammalian proteases renin, pepsin, cathepsin D, cathepsin G, and chymotrypsin. No inhibition of greater than 12% was observed for any of these enzymes at concentrations of DMP 323 that were 350 to 40,000 times higher than that required to inhibit the viral protease 50%.
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PMID:Potency and selectivity of inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus protease by a small nonpeptide cyclic urea, DMP 323. 797 96

The HIV protease (or proteinase) enzyme is an essential component of the replicative cycle of HIV, performing the post-transitional processing of the gag and gag-pol gene products into the functional core proteins and viral enzymes. Inhibition of this enzyme leads to production of immature noninfectious viral progeny, and hence prevention of further rounds of infection. Structurally, the enzyme is a homodimer consisting of two identical 99 amino acid chains. HIV protease is a member of the aspartic protease family but is structurally dissimilar to human aspartic proteases such as renin, gastricsin and cathepsin D and E, suggesting the possibility of creating inhibitors with a wide therapeutic index. At least 6 inhibitors of HIV protease are currently in clinical development: saquinavir, indinavir, ritonavir, nelfinavir (AG-1343), KNI-272 and VX-478, the first four of which have shown antiretroviral activity and acceptable tolerability in initial phase I/II clinical trials. Resistance or reduced sensitivity to the leading protease inhibitors has been reported in vivo and appears to be associated with loss of therapeutic effect. However, resistance patterns appear to be distinct. Treatment for 1 year with indinavir has been reported to lead to selection of virus in 4 patients, which was cross-resistant to all other leading protease inhibitors. On the other hand, a larger series of clinical isolates from patients receiving saquinavir alone or in combination with zidovudine for up to 3 years did not lead to virus cross-resistant to either indinavir or ritonavir. This suggests that care should be exercised in designing the sequence of protease usage. Additionally, differing resistance patterns may be used to select combinations of protease inhibitors in future trials. Data from studies combining protease inhibitors with nucleoside analogues suggest value in terms of larger and more prolonged virological and immunological marker responses than are observed with single agent therapy, and this is likely to be the primary role for protease inhibitors; both in initial combinations for patients commencing therapy and as add-in therapies for patients previously treated with antiretrovirals. However, in vitro and animal pharmacokinetic studies also give evidence of the possibility of combining protease inhibitors, potentially leading to improved bioavailability, antiviral synergy and delay in emergence of viral resistance.
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PMID:Current knowledge and future prospects for the use of HIV protease inhibitors. 886 42