Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0030193 (pain)
 261,466 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A novel series of phosphinic acid based inhibitors of the neuropeptidase NAALADase are described in this work. This series of compounds is the most potent series of inhibitors of the enzyme described to date. In addition, we have shown that these compounds are protective in animal models of neurodegeneration. Compound 34 significantly prevented neurodegeneration in a middle cerebral artery occlusion model of cerebral ischemia. In addition, in the chronic constrictive model of neuropathic pain, compound 34 significantly attenuated the hypersensitivity observed with saline-treated animals. These data suggest that NAALADase inhibition may provide a new approach for the treatment of both neurodegenerative disorders and peripheral neuropathies.
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PMID:Design and pharmacological activity of phosphinic acid based NAALADase inhibitors. 1170 18

Excitotoxic glutamate release occurs in several neurological disorders. One source is derived from the hydrolysis of the neuropeptide N-acetyl aspartyl glutamate (NAAG) by glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII, also known as NAALADase). Drugs that attenuate glutamate transmission have been shown to relieve neuropathic pain, however side effects have limited their clinical use. It appears that GCPII is exclusively recruited to provide a glutamate source in hyperglutamatergic, excitotoxic conditions and therefore would be devoid of such side effects. Here we report on the therapeutic effects of an orally bio-available GCP II inhibitor on established painful and sensory neuropathy in the spontaneously diabetic BB/Wor rat. It significantly improved hyperalgesia, nerve conduction velocity and underlying myelinated fiber atrophy. The data suggest that GCP II inhibition may provide a meaningful and effective approach to the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy.
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PMID:The preventive and therapeutic effects of GCPII (NAALADase) inhibition on painful and sensory diabetic neuropathy. 1678 Aug 83