Autacoids for Immune Modulation: a Strategy

ABSTRACT Autacoids have been found to be both mediators and modulators of rather complex in vitro and in vivo models of inflammation and immunity. Their eventual use as therapeutic modulators of these processes depends on a precise definition of their role in the subsets of cells that participate in the diseases. Defining this in turn depends on production of higher potency congeners of autacoids that also might be tissue directed. This report summarizes the strategy that has led to high potency congeners of catecholamines; it shows some evidence of the congener's tissue selectivity and early evidence of enhancing the latter by making conjugates of the congeners. The conjugates with dipeptide carriers have unexpected properties and may be the precursors of conjugates whose carrier moieties are monoclonal antibodies and, thereby, become organ directed.