Mechanical damage to the spinal cord (SC) generates self-destructive processes that contribute to post-traumatic neurodegeneration. Because thalidomide apparently counteracts these effects its use clinically has been proposed enthusiastically. Nonetheless, we tested its action as a neuroprotectant in a clinically relevant model of SC injury in rats. We administered thalidomide intraperitoneally...

Thalidomide provided significant protection against tri nitro benzene sulfonic acid induced colitis. Combination therapy also reduced colonic inflammation and all the biochemical parameters (myeloperoxidase assay, malondialdehyde assay and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, estimation) were significant as compared to control as well as thalidomide alone treated group. Combination therapy showed addit...

Thalidomide is a potent teratogen that induces a range of birth defects, most commonly of the developing limbs. The mechanisms underpinning the teratogenic effects of thalidomide are unclear. Here we demonstrate that loss of immature blood vessels is the primary cause of thalidomide-induced teratogenesis and provide an explanation for its action at the cell biological level. Antiangiogenic but ...

To determine the mechanism of thalidomide's antimyeloma efficacy, we studied the drug's activity in our severe combined immunodeficiency-human (SCID-hu) host system for primary human myeloma. In this model, tumor cells interact with the human microenvironment to produce typical myeloma manifestations in the hosts, including stimulation of neoangiogenesis. Because mice are not able to metabolize...

Although new analogues of immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) are being developed for MM, the molecular mechanism of these drugs remains unclear. In the current study, we used MM cell lines as a model to investigate the molecular mechanism of thalidomide and to compare its potency with IMiDs such as pomalidomide. We determined that thalidomide did not inhibit cell proliferation of RPMI8226 and U266 ...

Thalidomide is a recognized treatment of Behçet's disease. Low-dose thalidomide seems to be effective in the treatment of orogenital ulcers and is potentially safer with a lower incidence of adverse effects than higher doses. We wish to report a case of Behçet's disease in a 33-year-old woman who responded well to thalidomide 50 mg 2 to 4 times per week. Her disease manifestations (severe oroge...

We investigated the effect of thalidomide on transcriptional and post-transcriptional cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, including a pathway leading to COX-2 mRNA destabilization. We found that thalidomide inhibited the interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-mediated induction of COX-2 protein and mRNA in Caco-2 cells. Transient transfection with a COX-2 promoter construct demonstrated that thalidomide...

Thalidomide, an oral agent with antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory properties, is being investigated extensively in the management of advanced cancer. Multiple studies with large numbers of patients have confirmed that this drug has significant activity in multiple myeloma. Some patients with myelofibrosis or myeodysplatic syndromes may reduce their need for transfusions after thalidomide trea...

Thalidomide is used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated conditions, including aphthous ulcers and wasting syndrome. The safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of a formulation of thalidomide with improved bioavailability in HIV-infected persons was examined in a placebo-controlled, dose-escalating phase 1 study. Subjects with CD4 cell counts of 200-500 cells/mm(3) were en...

Thalidomide, a sedative drug given to pregnant women, unfortunately caused limb deformities in thousands of babies. Recently the drug was revived because of its therapeutic potential; however the search is still ongoing for an antidote against thalidomide induced limb deformities. In the current study we found that nitric oxide (NO) rescues thalidomide affected chick (Gallus gallus) and zebrafi...