In silico modeling techniques for predicting the tertiary structure of human H₄ receptor

First cloned in 2000, the human Histamine H₄ Receptor (hH₄R) is the last member of the histamine receptors family discovered so far, it belongs to the GPCR super-family and is involved in a wide variety of immunological and inflammatory responses. Potential hH₄R antagonists are proposed to have therapeutic potential for the treatment of allergies, inflammation, asthma and colitis. So far, no hH₄R ligands have been successfully introduced to the pharmaceutical market, which creates a strong demand for new selective ligands to be developed. In silico techniques and structural based modeling are likely to facilitate the achievement of this goal. In this review paper we attempt to cover the fundamental concepts of hH₄R structure modeling and its implementations in drug discovery and development, especially those that have been experimentally tested and to highlight some ideas that are currently being discussed on the dynamic nature of hH₄R and GPCRs, in regards to computerized techniques for 3-D structure modeling.