Chemical screen identifies possible medications for cystic fibrosis, other diseases
Researchers are constantly creating new drugs that may one day be available through a Canadian internet pharmacy.
Researchers are constantly creating new drugs that may one day be available through a Canadian internet pharmacy. These developing medications may be useful in treating diseases that currently have few medicinal options. One group of scientists from the University of California in San Francisco used highly advanced laboratory technology to identify several molecules that may be able to treat disorders that affect the movement of fluid in the body, such as cystic fibrosis (CF) or dry eye.
A protein known as TMEM16A acts as a special channel to control the movement of salt and water through the membranes of cells, according to the scientists. Defective TMEM16A channels can drive conditions characterized by improper hydration of the cells that create the inner lining of the body's tissues, such as CF, dry eye, dry mouth and slow-transit constipation.
The research team used high-throughput screening, a technology that quickly analyzes scores of potential drugs, to investigate the effects of more than 100,000 small molecules on TMEM16A. After finding several candidates, they scientists tested them in experiments on cell cultures and laboratory mice, and found that they do improve the movement of fluid, as published in the FASEB Journal.
These findings may lead to the development of new drugs to treat diseases mediated by TMEM16A channels, the researchers said.
|
