Design of Caspase Inhibitors as Potential Clinical Agents.

Edited by T. O'Brien, , S.D. Linton. . 2009, pp. 299, £108.00, ISBN: 978-1-4200-4540-6. CRC Press / Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, USA.

Caspases represent one of the most specific protease families described to date. These extremely important enzymes are crucial to the destruction of aberrant cells – the body's self-protection mechanism for warding off the growth of abnormal cells, many of which can promote cancer. This volume introduces cutting-edge evidence regarding caspases' role in pro-inflammatory responses. New research now shows that the inhibition of caspase function is a critical component for the treatment of many diseases, including: Arthritic and neurological disorders; Lung disease; Hereditary fever syndromes; Inflammatory bowel and skin diseases; Sepsis; Liver fibrosis.

Under the editorial guidance of authoritative inflammatory disease, small molecule discovery, and apoptosis researchers, the book organizes the wide array of caspase literature into one convenient resource. It also summarizes the relative difficulty of transitioning a caspase small molecule inhibitor from the lab to the clinic and suggests approaches to circumvent this difficulty. In addition to presenting the present and future therapeutic potential for caspase inhibitors, this important reference: Includes 16 colored illustrations to bolster understanding of complex concepts; Presents thorough biological research and data from animal disease knockout studies; Discusses the steps involved with small molecule inhibitor discovery; Examines initial clinical trials of novel caspase inhibitors.