Critical role of Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV: A therapeutic target for cancer & diabetes.

Dipeptidyl Peptidase is one of the novel targets for antidiabetic and anticancer drugs. The dipeptidyl amminopeptidase IV, expressed in mammalian, releases X-Pro/Ala dipeptides from the N-terminus of peptides. It is responsible for the degradation of the incretin hormones which regulate blood glucose level. At present several DPP-IV inhibitors are approved for type-2 diabetes mellitus. These enzymes are also expressed in dimeric form on the surface of different cells (mature thymocytes, activated T cells, B cells, NK cells, macrophages, renal, prostate, liver and small intestinal epithelium, biliary canaliculae, and splenic sinus lining cells). Disruption of the local signaling environment is emerging as a major contributory factor in cancer development and significant modifier of the host's response. The focus of this review is on recent medicinal aspects of type-2 diabetes and cancer therapy as well as designing of DPP-IV inhibitors.