Abstract
Altered serum uric acid concentrations, both above and below normal levels, have been linked to a number of disease states. An abnormally high uric acid level has been correlated with gout, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and renal disease, whereas a reduced uric acid concentration has been linked to multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and optic neuritis. Historically, uric acid has been considered a marker of these disease states. Recent studies, however, have provided evidence that uric acid may actually play a role in the development or progression of such diseases. As a result, the manipulation of uric acid concentrations is now either included in, or being investigated for, the treatment of a variety of disease states.
Footnotes
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This work was funded as part of paid consulting work for Savient Pharmaceuticals (East Brunswick, NJ) (to B.L.F.).
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Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at http://jpet.aspetjournals.org.
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doi:10.1124/jpet.107.129031.
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ABBREVIATIONS: UA, uric acid; MS, multiple sclerosis; EAE, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis; NO, nitric oxide; NOS, NO synthase; PD, Parkinson's disease; AD, Alzheimer's disease; URAT1, urate transporter 1; RAS, renin angiotensin system; MRP4, multidrug resistance protein 4; OAT, organic ion transporter; BBB, blood-brain barrier.
- Received July 23, 2007.
- Accepted September 20, 2007.
- The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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