What is the Origin of Non-Selective Agonism?

This concept is fundamental to pharmacology, rooted in the study of drug-receptor interactions and the development of more targeted therapeutics. Early pharmaceutical agents often exhibited non-selective agonism before the advent of molecular biology allowed for the design of highly specific ligands.

What is the Mechanism of Non-Selective Agonism?

The mechanism is based on the compound's molecular structure possessing chemical features that allow it to fit into and activate the binding pockets of several structurally related receptors. When the non-selective agonist binds, it induces a conformational change in each receptor, initiating the downstream intracellular signaling cascade common to all activated receptor subtypes. This simultaneous activation of multiple pathways accounts for the compound's pleiotropic effects throughout the body.

Non-Selective Agonism ∞ Area

Non-Selective Agonism

Meaning

Non-selective agonism describes the pharmacological property of a therapeutic agent that activates multiple subtypes of a receptor family, or even receptors belonging to different families, with approximately equal affinity and efficacy. In endocrinology, this lack of specificity means the compound will trigger a wide array of biological responses across various tissues, often leading to a broad spectrum of desired effects alongside potentially unwanted systemic side effects. Precision medicine favors selective agonism to minimize off-target activity.