Proceedings of the International Conference on Dipeptidyl Aminopeptidases, held September 26-28, 2002, in Berlin, Germany.

Dipeptidyl Aminopeptidases exert a potent modulatory role at an interface between immune mechanisms, metabolic responses and neuroendocrine pathways. Experimental models and clinical studies addressing the role of these enzymes and the effect of specific inhibitors pave the way to novel therapeutic concepts in immunology, rheumatology, oncology, reproductive medicine and diabetes.

Leading experts in this field have contributed to this book which presents a state-of-the-art view on these enzymes, at a time when our understanding of their function is growing ever more rapidly and therapeutic options become imminent. The sections of the book focus on various topics:

• Structure and function of dipeptidyl aminopeptidases, - DPP IV-like proteins, - Immune mechanisms and immune disorders, - Cancer and angiogenesis, - Diabetes and metabolism, - Therapeutic implications.

Inhalt

Structure and Function of Dipeptidyl Aminopeptidases. Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Substrates; I. de Meester, et al. Structure-Function Relationship of DPP IV: Insights into its Dimerisation and Gelatinase Activity; O. Baum, et al. Exploration of the Active Site of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV From Porphyromonas gingivalis; A.-M. Lambeir, et al. Modification of the Biological Activity of Chemokines by Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV - a Side Effect in the Use of Inhibitors? R. Mentlein, et al. Molecular Chimeras and Mutational Analysis in the Prolyl Oligopeptidase Gene Family; K. Ajami, et al. The Specificity of DP IV for Natural Substrates is Peptide Structure Determined; K. Kühn-Wache, et al. New Results on the Conformations of Potent DP IV (CD26) Inhibitors Bearing the N-terminal MWP Structural Motif; C. Mrestani-Klaus, et al. Different Inhibition Mechanisms of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV by Tryptophan Containing Peptides and Amides; A. Stöckel-Maschek, et al. Re-Uptake Mechanisms of Peptide Fragments after DPP IV-Mediated Proteolysis in the Peripheral Nervous System; Q. Thai Dinh, et al. DPP IV-Like Enzymes. Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Gene Family; Tong Chen, et al. Seprase-DPPIV Association and Prolyl Peptidase and Gelatinase Activities of the Protease Complex; G. Ghersi, et al. Dipeptidyl Peptidase-IV Activity and/or Structure Homologues (DASH) in Transformed Neuroectodermal Cells; R. Malik, et al. Characterisation of Human DP IV Produced by a Pichia pastoris Expression System; J.W. Baer, et al. Isolation and Characterization of Attractin-2; D. Friedrich, et al. Investigation of DP IV-dependent Protein-Protein Interactions using Surface Plasmon Resonance; J. Stork, et al. Immune Mechanisms andImmune Disorders. Synergistic Action of DPIV and APN in the Regulation of T Cell Function; U. Lendeckel, et al. CD26/DPP IV in Experimental and Clinical Organ Transplantation; S. Korom, et al. CD26 is Involved in the Regulation of T-Cell Plasma Membrane Compartmentation; J. Lojo, et al. Inhibition of Dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP IV, CD26) Activity Modulates Surface Expression of CTLA-4 in Stress-Induced Abortions; J. Rüter, et al. Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV/CD26 in T Cell Activation, Cytokine Secretion and Immunoglobulin Production; Hua Fan, et al. Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibitors with the N-terminal MXP Sequence: Structure-Activity-Relationships; J. Faust, et al. On the Role of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV in the Digestion of an Immunodominant Epitope in Celiac Disease; S. Koch, et al. The Properties of Human and Bovine CD8+CD26+ T Cells Induced by a Microbial Superantigen; Sang-Un Lee, et al. Angiogenesis and Cancer. DPPIV and Seprase in Cancer Invasion and Angiogenesis; W.-T. Chen. Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II Inhibition as a Novel Therapeutic Target; C. Rojas, et al. Dual Role of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV (DPP IV) in Angiogenesis and Vascular Remodeling; J. Kitlinska, et al. CD26 Expression on Cutaneous Infiltrates from Patients with Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL); M. Novelli, et al. Intrahepatic Expression of Collagen and Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) in Hepatitis C Virus Infection; M.D. Gorrell, et al. Expression of CD26/Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV in Endometrial Adenocarcinoma and its Negative Correlation with Tumor Grade; H. Kajiyama, et al. Adhesion Potency to Mesothelial Cells by Overexpression of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV; F. Kikkawa, et al. Survival Time and Invasive Activity due to Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Overexpression in Ovarian C