Autacoids

Histamine. Histamiae [51 -45-6] (200) is an inflammatory autacoid iavolved ia alleigic and anaphylactic reactions (3,39,59) (see... 

Adenosine production in the synapse is not through vesicular release in response to nerve firing, as is the case for classical neurotransmitters. Rather, adenosine acts as a local autacoid, the release of which increases upon stress to an organ or tissue. Most cells in culture and in situ produce and release adenosine extracellularly. This... 

Autacoids are literally self-medicating agents that are liberated from or produced by cells in response to a stimulus. They differ from hormones in that they usually act locally after release, rather than reaching their target organ via the bloodstream. 

Prostaglandins are a group of lipid autacoids known as eicosanoids. They are produced from membrane phospholipids and found in almost every tissue and body fluid. They are involved in a number of physiological processes including inflammation, smooth muscle tone and gastrointestinal secretion. In the central nervous system they have been reported to produce both excitation and inhibition of neuronal activity. 

Morrow JD, Roberts LJII (2001) Lipid-derived autacoids. In Hardman JG, Limbird LE, Gilman AG (eds), Goodman and Gilman s the pharmacological basis of therapeutics. New York, McGraw-Hill, pp 669-685... 

When we use a hormone as a drug, we can give it systemically. It enters into the blood stream and acts physiologically and pharmacologically as it is acting in the body. Contrary, autacoids such as prostaglandins and superoxide dismutase are... 

Arginase, activity of polyethylene glycol modified enzymes, 98 -99 Aromatic monomers, limited biocompatibility, 155 Asparaginase, activity of polyethylene glycol modified enzymes, 98-99 Autacoids, inactivation during systemic delivery, 266-267... 

The main mechanism of action of caffeine occurs via the blockade of adenosine receptors in the CNS. Adenosine is an autacoid, which is involved in the modulation of behavior, oxygenation of cells, and dilatation of cerebral and coronary blood vessels and indirectly inhibits the release of dopamine. The blockade of adenosine receptors by caffeine increases the activity of dopamine, which is implicated in the effects of caffeine (91). The question that arises from this observation is to know whether or not adenosine antagonists hold potential for the treatment of Parkinsonism, and further study on the adenosine receptor antagonists from medicinal plants should be encouraged. A possible source for such agents could be the medicinal flora of Asia and the Pacific, among which is the family Sapindaceae. 

Campbell, W.B. and Halushka, P. V., Lipid-derived autacoids eicosanoids and platelet-activating factor, in Goodman and Gilman s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed., Hardman, J.G. and Limbird, L.E., Eds., McGraw-Hill,... 

Sanger, G. J., Munonyara, M. L., Dass, N., Prosser, H., Pangalos, M. N., and Parsons, M. E. (2002) GABAb receptor function in the ileum and urinary bladder of wildtype and GABAb1 subunit null mice. Auton. Autacoid Pharmacol. 22,147-154. 

Since the identification of PAF in the early 1970 s, the autacoid has steadily emerged as a crucial mediator of diverse pathologies. Indeed, PAF is a potent mediator of anaphylaxis and inflammation and is also implicated in shock, graft rejection, renal disease, ovoimplantation and certain disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) [36,44]. There is also accumulating evidence that PAF is capable of modulating the immune response [45, 46]. 

The word Autacoids comes from the Greek Autos (self) and Acos (drug) and the general meaning is self-remedy. They are naturally occurring substances which do not normally circulate and are localized in... 

Autacoids are a chemically diverse group of substances which are released in response to various types of stimulation. An imbalance in their synthesis, release or in the transduction system contributes significantly to pathological conditions such as inflammation, allergy, hypersensitivity and ischaemia. 

The autacoids comprise histamine, serotonin, angiotensin, neurotensin, NO (nitric oxide), kinins, platelet-activating factor, endothelins and the four families of traditional eicosanoids - the leukotrienes and three types of prostanoids i.e. prostaglandins, prostacyclins, and thromboxanes. Several other natural occurring molecules are sometimes called eicos-anoid, including the hepoxilins, resolvins, isofurans, isoprostanes, lipoxins, epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and some endocannabinoids. However, not... 

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