protease inhibitor

(prō`tē-ās'), any of a class of drugs that interfere with replication of the AIDSAIDS
or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome,
fatal disease caused by a rapidly mutating retrovirus that attacks the immune system and leaves the victim vulnerable to infections, malignancies, and neurological disorders. It was first recognized as a disease in 1981.
..... Click the link for more information. virus (HIVHIV,
human immunodeficiency virus, either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States.
..... Click the link for more information. ), by blocking an enzyme (protease) necessary in the late stages of its reproduction. Clinical trials of the protease inhibitor indinavir have shown it to be especially beneficial in combination with the anti-HIV drugs AZTAZT
or zidovudine
, drug used to treat patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS; also called azidothymidine. Originally developed in 1964 as an anticancer drug, AZT was never approved for that purpose.
..... Click the link for more information. and 3TC, which act by blocking a different enzyme, reverse transcriptase. Saquinavir, the first member of the class to be marketed, was approved for use in 1995 by the Food and Drug Administration.

protease inhibitor

inhibitor

[in-hib´ĭ-tor] 1. any substance that interferes with a chemical reaction, growth, or other biologic activity.2. a chemical substance that inhibits or checks the action of a tissue organizer or the growth of microorganisms.3. an effector that reduces the catalytic activity of an enzyme.ACE i's (angiotensin-converting enzyme i's) see angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.angiogenesis inhibitor a group of drugs that prevent growth of new blood vessels into a solid tumor.aromatase i's a class of drugs that inhibit aromatase activity and thus block production of estrogens; used to treat breast cancer and endometriosis.C1 inhibitor (C1 INH) a member of the serpin group, an inhibitor of C1, the initial component activated in the pathway" >classical complement pathway. Deficiency of or defect in the protein causes angioedema" >hereditary angioedema.carbonic anhydrase inhibitor an agent that inhibits the enzyme carbonic anhydrase" >carbonic anhydrase; used in treatment of glaucoma and sometimes for epilepsy, paralysis" >familial periodic paralysis, acute mountain sickness, and kidney stones of uric acid.cholinesterase inhibitor anticholinesterase.COX-2 i's (cyclooxygenase-2 i's) a group of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs that act by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 activity; they have fewer gastrointestinal side effects than other NSAIDs. Two members of the group are celecoxib and rofecoxib.gastric acid pump inhibitor an agent that inhibits gastric acid secretion by blocking the action of H⁺,K⁺-ATPase at the secretory surface of gastric parietal cells; called also proton pump i.HIV protease inhibitor any of a group of antiretroviral drugs active against the human immunodeficiency virus; they prevent protease-mediated cleavage of viral polyproteins, causing production of immature viral particles that are noninfective. Examples include indinavir sulfate, nelfinavir mesylate, ritonavir, and saquinavir.HMG-CoA reductase i's a group of drugs that competitively inhibit the enzyme that catalyzes the rate-limiting step in cholesterol biosynthesis, and are used to lower plasma lipoprotein levels in the treatment of hyperlipoproteinemia. Called also statins.MAO inhibitor monoamine oxidase inhibitor.membrane inhibitor of reactive lysis (MIRL) protectin.monoamine oxidase inhibitor any of a group of drugs that inhibit the action of monoamine oxidase" >monoamine oxidase, the enzyme that breaks down norepinephrine" >norepinephrine and serotonin" >serotonin, prescribed for their antidepressant action; the most widely used ones are isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine. They are also used in the prevention of migraine.α₂-plasmin inhibitor α₂-antiplasmin.plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) any of several regulators of the fibrinolytic system that act by binding to and inhibiting free activator" >plasminogen activator. Their concentration in plasma is normally low, but is altered in some disturbances of bodily hemostasis. PAI-1 is an important fast-reacting inhibitor of activator" >t-plasminogen activator and activator" >u-plasminogen activator. Its synthesis, activity, and release are highly regulated; elevated levels of it have been described in a number of disease states. PAI-2 is a normally minor inhibitor that greatly increases in concentration during pregnancy and in certain disorders. PAI-3 is protein C inhibitor.platelet inhibitor any of a group of agents that inhibit the clotting activity of platelets; the most common ones are aspirin and dipyridamole. See also therapy" >antiplatelet therapy.protease inhibitor 1. a substance that blocks activity of endopeptidase (protease), such as in a virus.2. HIV protease inhibitor.protein C inhibitor the primary inhibitor of activated anticoagulant protein C; it is a glycoprotein of the serpin family of proteinase inhibitors and also inhibits several other proteins involved in coagulation (thrombin, kallikrein, and coagulation factors X and XI) and urokinase. Called also plasminogen activator inhibitor 3.proton pump inhibitor gastric acid pump i.reverse transcriptase inhibitor a substance that blocks activity of the reverse transcriptase of a retrovirus and is used as an antiretroviral agent. Some are nucleosides or analogues" >nucleoside analogues, and those that are not are therefore often called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) any of a group of drugs that inhibit the inactivation of serotonin by blocking its absorption in the central nervous system; used as antidepressants and in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder.serine protease inhibitor (serine proteinase inhibitor) serpin.topoisomerase i's a class of antineoplastic agents that interfere with the arrangement of DNA in cells.

protease inhibitor

a class of synthetic drug used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection.

HIV-1 protease activity is critical for the terminal maturation of infectious virions. Protease inhibitors specific for HIV-1 competitively inhibit this enzyme, thereby preventing the maturation of virions capable of infecting other cells. These agents can reduce the plasma viral load (level of HIV RNA in the circulation) in a patient with AIDS below the measurable level. Their use has been shown to decrease the risk of disease progression and mortality in patients with HIV infection. They have also been found to improve CD4 counts and reverse AIDS dementia in some patients. Protease inhibitors are administered in combination with nucleoside analogues (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) to exploit the different modes of action of these two classes of antiviral drug. Because of increasing viral resistance to protease inhibitors, combination regimens including three agents are standard. A few strains of HIV show resistance to all available protease inhibitors. Significant side-effects of protease inhibitors include elevation of cholesterol and triglyceride levels, insulin resistance and emergence of frank DM, and cosmetically objectionable lipodystrophy (excessive accumulation of fat in the abdomen and breasts accompanied by fat wasting in the face, extremities, and buttocks). Protease inhibitors currently in use include amprenavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir.

protease inhibitor

n.1. Any of various drugs that inhibit the action of HIV protease, an enzyme necessary for replication of the HIV virus, and are used in the treatment of HIV infection.2. Any of various substances that inhibit the action of a protease.

protease inhibitor

Alternative pharmacology
Any of the substances that inhibit the proteases which promote growth of breast, colon and other cancers. Protease inhibitors neutralise various carcinogens and are present in whole-grain oats, rice, potatoes, chickpeas, kidney beans and other foods.

protease inhibitor

AIDS An antiretroviral agent that inhibits retroviral protease, which interferes with the ability of a virus to copy itself, used to manage HIV infection–eg, saquinavir, ritonavir, indinavir, nelfinavir

pro·te·ase in·hib·i·tor

(prō'tē-ās in-hib'i-tŏr) A class of synthetic drugs used in the treatment of HIV infection, with a mode of action different from those of formerly used antiretroviral agents including nucleoside analogues.

Protease inhibitor

A drug that inhibits the action of enzymes.Mentioned in: Sildenafil Citrate

pro·te·ase in·hib·i·tor

(prō'tē-ās in-hib'i-tŏr) Class of synthetic drug used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection.

protease inhibitor

protease inhibitor

protease inhibitor

protease inhibitor

protease inhibitor

protease inhibitor

inhibitor

protease inhibitor

protease inhibitor

protease inhibitor

protease inhibitor

pro·te·ase in·hib·i·tor

Protease inhibitor

pro·te·ase in·hib·i·tor

protease inhibitor

Synonyms for protease inhibitor

noun an antiviral drug used against HIV

Synonyms

Related Words