Expert opinion on therapeutic patents
-
Expert Opin Ther Pat · Dec 2014
ReviewTriggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells receptor family modulators: a patent review.
Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM) receptors and TREM-like transcript (TLT; or TREML) receptors of the immunoglobulin superfamily are known as key modulators of host immune responses. TREM-1 (CD354) and TREM-2 share the transmembrane adaptor DNAX-activation protein of 12 kDa (DAP12), but they possess separate stimulatory and inhibitory functional roles, especially in myeloid cells. ⋯ So far, therapeutic use of activators/blockers specific for TREMs and TLTs has been limited to preclinical animal models. TREM-1 is an immediate therapeutic target for acute and chronic inflammatory conditions, especially sepsis. Certain mutations in DAP12 and TREM-2 manifest into a disorder named polycystic lipomembranous osteodysplasia with sclerosing leukoencephalopathy, and newly identified TREM-2 variants confer a significant increase in risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. This makes TREM-2 an attractive therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases.