FASEB Summer Research Conference 2008 - Melatonin Receptors: Actions and Therapeu

描述（由申请人提供）：本次会议将重点关注褪黑激素受体作为治疗睡眠和昼夜节律障碍、失眠、癌症、免疫系统改变以及炎症过程的潜在治疗靶点的作用。近十年来，对褪黑素配体的分子和药理作用的研究取得了很大进展。此外，第一种作用于MT1和MT2受体的褪黑激素配体已经上市，用于治疗失眠和昼夜节律睡眠障碍（ramelteon，由武田制药北美公司，美国）。其他褪黑素类似物正在进行III期临床试验，用于治疗抑郁症、失眠和昼夜睡眠障碍（即阿戈美拉汀，PD 6735, Vec 162）。我们认为，将研究褪黑激素受体领域的科学家聚集在一起，讨论最新进展，并确定未来的研究方向，是非常及时的。会议的主要重点将是确定和讨论使用褪黑激素受体作为靶点的新治疗方法。讨论和展示的数据将包括发现褪黑激素的化学结构，确定其生理作用，以及发现受体蛋白及其作为治疗靶点的作用。这将是第一次将研究人员聚集在一起，使用褪黑激素受体作为开发治疗剂的目标。最近发现了许多具有潜在治疗益处的褪黑素的新作用，这引起了生化科学家和临床医生的极大兴趣。公共卫生相关性：本次会议将首次汇集一批世界上最重要的褪黑素专家，介绍和讨论褪黑素受体的生理和药理学、褪黑素的作用和新的治疗性褪黑素配体。在可预见的未来，随着新的褪黑激素配体在褪黑激素受体水平上的疗效进入市场，使用褪黑激素配体的治疗策略的进展将大大增加。这将对一系列疾病的治疗和预防产生重大而独特的影响，包括失眠和其他睡眠障碍、昼夜节律紊乱、癌症、免疫紊乱、心血管问题、败血症、炎症、神经退行性疾病和骨质疏松症。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This conference will focus on the role of melatonin receptors as potential therapeutic targets to treat sleep and circadian disorders, insomnia, cancer, and alterations of the immune system, as well as inflammatory processes. In the last ten years, great advances have been made in understanding the molecular and pharmacological actions of melatonin ligands. Furthermore, the first melatonin ligand acting on MT1 and MT2 receptors has been marketed for the treatment of insomnia and circadian sleep disorders (ramelteon, by Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, USA). Other melatonin analogues are in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of depression, insomnia, and circadian sleep disorders (i.e., agomelatine, PD 6735, Vec 162). We believe it is very timely to bring together scientists working in the area of melatonin receptors to discuss recent advances, as well as to set up future directions in research. The main emphasis of the conference will be on identifying and discussing novel therapeutic approaches using melatonin receptors as targets. The data discussed and presented will range from the discovery of melatonin's chemical structure, the identification of its physiological role, and the discovery of the receptor proteins and their role as therapeutic targets. This will be the first conference of its kind to bring together investigators using melatonin receptors as targets for the development of therapeutic agents. Many new actions of melatonin with potential therapeutic benefits have recently been discovered that are of great interest to biochemical scientists and clinicians. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This conference will bring together, for the first time, a group of the world's foremost melatonin experts to present and discuss the physiology and pharmacology of melatonin receptors, the actions of melatonin, and new therapeutic melatonin ligands. In the foreseeable future, advances in therapeutic strategies using melatonin ligands will substantially increase as additional new melatonin ligands with efficacy at the level of melatonin receptors reach the market. This will have a significant and unique impact on the treatment and prevention of a wide range of diseases, including insomnia and other sleep disorders, circadian rhythm disturbances, cancer, immunological disorders, cardiovascular problems, sepsis, inflammation, neurodegenerative disorders, and osteoporosis.