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Secci D, Sanna E, Distinto S, Onali A, Lupia A, Demuru L, Atzeni G, Meleddu R, Cottiglia F, Angeli A, Supuran CT, Maccioni E. Privileged Scaffold Hybridization in the Design of Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors. Molecules 2024; 29:4444. [PMID: 39339439 PMCID: PMC11433937 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29184444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2024] [Revised: 09/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Human Carbonic Anhydrases (hCA) are enzymes that contribute to cancer's development and progression. Isoforms IX and XII have been identified as potential anticancer targets, and, more specifically, hCA IX is overexpressed in hypoxic tumor cells, where it plays an important role in reprogramming the metabolism. With the aim to find new inhibitors towards IX and XII isoforms, the hybridization of the privileged scaffolds isatin, dihydrothiazole, and benzenesulfonamide was investigated in order to explore how it may affect the activity and selectivity of the hCA isoforms. In this respect, a series of isatin thiazolidinone hybrids have been designed and synthesized and their biological activity and selectivity on hCA I, hCA II, hCA IX, and hCA XII explored. The new compounds exhibited promising inhibitory activity results on isoforms IX and XII in the nanomolar range, which has highlighted the importance of substituents in the isatin ring and in position 3 and 5 of thiazolidinone. In particular, compound 5g was the most active toward hCA IX, while 5f was the most potent inhibitor of hCA XII within the series. When both potency and selectivity were considered, compound 5f appeared as one of the most promising. Additionally, our investigations were supported by molecular docking experiments, which have highlighted the putative binding poses of the most promising compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Secci
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Erica Sanna
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Simona Distinto
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessia Onali
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Antonio Lupia
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
- Net4Science S.r.l, Università Degli Studi "Magna Græcia" di Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Laura Demuru
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giulia Atzeni
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Rita Meleddu
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Filippo Cottiglia
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Andrea Angeli
- Dipartimento Neurofarba, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Claudiu T Supuran
- Dipartimento Neurofarba, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Florence, Italy
| | - Elias Maccioni
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, Monserrato, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
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Zhang Y, Xiao B, Liu Y, Wu S, Xiang Q, Xiao Y, Zhao J, Yuan R, Xie K, Li L. Roles of PPAR activation in cancer therapeutic resistance: Implications for combination therapy and drug development. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 964:176304. [PMID: 38142851 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic resistance is a major obstacle to successful treatment or effective containment of cancer. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) play an essential role in regulating energy homeostasis and determining cell fate. Despite of the pleiotropic roles of PPARs in cancer, numerous studies have suggested their intricate relationship with therapeutic resistance in cancer. In this review, we provided an overview of the roles of excessively activated PPARs in promoting resistance to modern anti-cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. The mechanisms through which activated PPARs contribute to therapeutic resistance in most cases include metabolic reprogramming, anti-oxidant defense, anti-apoptosis signaling, proliferation-promoting pathways, and induction of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In addition, we discussed the mechanisms through which activated PPARs lead to multidrug resistance in cancer, including drug efflux, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and acquisition and maintenance of the cancer stem cell phenotype. Preliminary studies investigating the effect of combination therapies with PPAR antagonists have suggested the potential of these antagonists in reversing resistance and facilitating sustained cancer management. These findings will provide a valuable reference for further research on and clinical translation of PPAR-targeting treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxia Zhang
- School of Medicine, The South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511518, China
| | - Bin Xiao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511518, China
| | - Yunduo Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511518, China
| | - Shunhong Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511518, China
| | - Qin Xiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511518, China
| | - Yuhan Xiao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511518, China
| | - Junxiu Zhao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511518, China
| | - Ruanfei Yuan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511518, China
| | - Keping Xie
- School of Medicine, The South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Linhai Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, 511518, China.
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Fordjour E, Manful CF, Sey AA, Javed R, Pham TH, Thomas R, Cheema M. Cannabis: a multifaceted plant with endless potentials. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1200269. [PMID: 37397476 PMCID: PMC10308385 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1200269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabis sativa, also known as "hemp" or "weed," is a versatile plant with various uses in medicine, agriculture, food, and cosmetics. This review attempts to evaluate the available literature on the ecology, chemical composition, phytochemistry, pharmacology, traditional uses, industrial uses, and toxicology of Cannabis sativa. So far, 566 chemical compounds have been isolated from Cannabis, including 125 cannabinoids and 198 non-cannabinoids. The psychoactive and physiologically active part of the plant is a cannabinoid, mostly found in the flowers, but also present in smaller amounts in the leaves, stems, and seeds. Of all phytochemicals, terpenes form the largest composition in the plant. Pharmacological evidence reveals that the plants contain cannabinoids which exhibit potential as antioxidants, antibacterial agents, anticancer agents, and anti-inflammatory agents. Furthermore, the compounds in the plants have reported applications in the food and cosmetic industries. Significantly, Cannabis cultivation has a minimal negative impact on the environment in terms of cultivation. Most of the studies focused on the chemical make-up, phytochemistry, and pharmacological effects, but not much is known about the toxic effects. Overall, the Cannabis plant has enormous potential for biological and industrial uses, as well as traditional and other medicinal uses. However, further research is necessary to fully understand and explore the uses and beneficial properties of Cannabis sativa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Fordjour
- School of Science and the Environment, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NL, Canada
- Biotron Experimental Climate Change Research Centre/Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Charles F. Manful
- School of Science and the Environment, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NL, Canada
| | - Albert A. Sey
- School of Science and the Environment, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NL, Canada
| | - Rabia Javed
- School of Science and the Environment, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NL, Canada
| | - Thu Huong Pham
- School of Science and the Environment, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NL, Canada
| | - Raymond Thomas
- Biotron Experimental Climate Change Research Centre/Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Mumtaz Cheema
- School of Science and the Environment, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NL, Canada
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Dormancy, stemness, and therapy resistance: interconnected players in cancer evolution. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:197-215. [PMID: 36757577 PMCID: PMC10014678 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10092-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
The biological complexity of cancer represents a tremendous clinical challenge, resulting in the frequent failure of current treatment protocols. In the rapidly evolving scenario of a growing tumor, anticancer treatments impose a drastic perturbation not only to cancer cells but also to the tumor microenvironment, killing a portion of the cells and inducing a massive stress response in the survivors. Consequently, treatments can act as a double-edged sword by inducing a temporary response while laying the ground for therapy resistance and subsequent disease progression. Cancer cell dormancy (or quiescence) is a central theme in tumor evolution, being tightly linked to the tumor's ability to survive cytotoxic challenges, metastasize, and resist immune-mediated attack. Accordingly, quiescent cancer cells (QCCs) have been detected in virtually all the stages of tumor development. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have focused on the characterization of quiescent/therapy resistant cancer cells, unveiling QCCs core transcriptional programs, metabolic plasticity, and mechanisms of immune escape. At the same time, our partial understanding of tumor quiescence reflects the difficulty to identify stable QCCs biomarkers/therapeutic targets and to control cancer dormancy in clinical settings. This review focuses on recent discoveries in the interrelated fields of dormancy, stemness, and therapy resistance, discussing experimental evidences in the frame of a nonlinear dynamics approach, and exploring the possibility that tumor quiescence may represent not only a peril but also a potential therapeutic resource.
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Wu J, Chu E, Paul B, Kang Y. Mechanistic Studies and a Retrospective Cohort Study: The Interaction between PPAR Agonists and Immunomodulatory Agents in Multiple Myeloma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14215272. [PMID: 36358696 PMCID: PMC9657746 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Our previous study demonstrated that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists downregulated cereblon (CRBN) expression and reduced the anti-myeloma activity of lenalidomide in vitro and in vivo. We aimed to determine whether DNA methylation and protein degradation contribute to the effects of PPAR agonists. CRBN promoter methylation status was detected using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. The CRBN protein degradation rate was measured using a cycloheximide chase assay. Metabolomic analysis was performed in multiple myeloma (MM) cells treated with PPAR agonists and/or lenalidomide. Our retrospective study determined the effect of co-administration of PPAR agonists with immunomodulatory drugs on the outcomes of patients with MM. CpG islands of the CRBN promoter region became highly methylated upon treatment with PPAR agonists, whereas treatment with PPAR antagonists resulted in unmethylation. The CRBN protein was rapidly degraded after treatment with PPAR agonists. Lenalidomide and fenofibrate showed opposite effects on acylcarnitines and amino acids. Co-administration of immunomodulatory drugs and PPAR agonists was associated with inferior treatment responses and poor survival. Our study provides the first evidence that PPAR agonists reduce CRBN expression through various mechanisms including inducing methylation of CRBN promoter CpG island, enhancing CRBN protein degradation, and affecting metabolomics of MM cells.
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An Update on the Current and Emerging Use of Thiazolidinediones for Type 2 Diabetes. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2022; 58:medicina58101475. [PMID: 36295635 PMCID: PMC9609741 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58101475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Guidelines have increasingly stressed the concept that adequate glycemic control is required to prevent or decrease the macro- and microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). PPAR-gamma agonists (“glitazones”) are no longer prioritized due to their effects on heart failure. However, the association between these drugs and innovative therapies could be a valuable tool to attenuate the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome. Glitazones are used for the treatment of diabetes and associated comorbidities. There is substantial scientific evidence demonstrating the effect of glitazones at a cardiometabolic level, as well as on hematological and neurological pathologies that point to their usefulness. The use of glitazones has always been controversial both for the type of patients who must take these drugs and for the side effects associated with them. Unfortunately, the recent guidelines do not include them among the preferred drugs for the treatment of hyperglycemia and rosiglitazone is out of the market in many countries due to an adverse cardiovascular risk profile. Even though real-life studies have proven otherwise, and their pleiotropic effects have been highlighted, they have been unable to achieve primacy in the choice of antihyperglycemic drugs. It would be appropriate to demonstrate the usefulness of pioglitazone and its therapeutic benefit with further cardiovascular safety studies.
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Lüke F, Harrer DC, Pantziarka P, Pukrop T, Ghibelli L, Gerner C, Reichle A, Heudobler D. Drug Repurposing by Tumor Tissue Editing. Front Oncol 2022; 12:900985. [PMID: 35814409 PMCID: PMC9270020 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.900985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The combinatory use of drugs for systemic cancer therapy commonly aims at the direct elimination of tumor cells through induction of apoptosis. An alternative approach becomes the focus of attention if biological changes in tumor tissues following combinatory administration of regulatorily active drugs are considered as a therapeutic aim, e.g., differentiation, transdifferentiation induction, reconstitution of immunosurveillance, the use of alternative cell death mechanisms. Editing of the tumor tissue establishes new biological 'hallmarks' as a 'pressure point' to attenuate tumor growth. This may be achieved with repurposed, regulatorily active drug combinations, often simultaneously targeting different cell compartments of the tumor tissue. Moreover, tissue editing is paralleled by decisive functional changes in tumor tissues providing novel patterns of target sites for approved drugs. Thus, agents with poor activity in non-edited tissue may reveal new clinically meaningful outcomes. For tissue editing and targeting edited tissue novel requirements concerning drug selection and administration can be summarized according to available clinical and pre-clinical data. Monoactivity is no pre-requisite, but combinatory bio-regulatory activity. The regulatorily active dose may be far below the maximum tolerable dose, and besides inhibitory active drugs stimulatory drug activities may be integrated. Metronomic scheduling often seems to be of advantage. Novel preclinical approaches like functional assays testing drug combinations in tumor tissue are needed to select potential drugs for repurposing. The two-step drug repurposing procedure, namely establishing novel functional systems states in tumor tissues and consecutively providing novel target sites for approved drugs, facilitates the systematic identification of drug activities outside the scope of any original clinical drug approvals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Lüke
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Division of Personalized Tumor Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Dennis Christoph Harrer
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Pan Pantziarka
- The George Pantziarka TP53 Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tobias Pukrop
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lina Ghibelli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Christopher Gerner
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Albrecht Reichle
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Heudobler
- Department of Internal Medicine III, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Tilekar K, Shelke O, Upadhyay N, Lavecchia A, Ramaa CS. Current status and future prospects of molecular hybrids with thiazolidinedione (TZD) scaffold in anticancer drug discovery. J Mol Struct 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.131767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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van Noorden CJ, Breznik B, Novak M, van Dijck AJ, Tanan S, Vittori M, Bogataj U, Bakker N, Khoury JD, Molenaar RJ, Hira VV. Cell Biology Meets Cell Metabolism: Energy Production Is Similar in Stem Cells and in Cancer Stem Cells in Brain and Bone Marrow. J Histochem Cytochem 2022; 70:29-51. [PMID: 34714696 PMCID: PMC8721571 DOI: 10.1369/00221554211054585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Energy production by means of ATP synthesis in cancer cells has been investigated frequently as a potential therapeutic target in this century. Both (an)aerobic glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) have been studied. Here, we review recent literature on energy production in glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) and leukemic stem cells (LSCs) versus their normal counterparts, neural stem cells (NSCs) and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), respectively. These two cancer stem cell types were compared because their niches in glioblastoma tumors and in bone marrow are similar. In this study, it became apparent that (1) ATP is produced in NSCs and HSCs by anaerobic glycolysis, whereas fatty acid oxidation (FAO) is essential for their stem cell fate and (2) ATP is produced in GSCs and LSCs by OXPHOS despite the hypoxic conditions in their niches with FAO and amino acids providing its substrate. These metabolic processes appeared to be under tight control of cellular regulation mechanisms which are discussed in depth. However, our conclusion is that systemic therapeutic targeting of ATP production via glycolysis or OXPHOS is not an attractive option because of its unwanted side effects in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Barbara Breznik
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Metka Novak
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | | | - Miloš Vittori
- Amsterdam UMC Location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Urban Bogataj
- Amsterdam UMC Location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Joseph D. Khoury
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Remco J. Molenaar
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia,Department of Medical Oncology
| | - Vashendriya V.V. Hira
- Vashendriya V.V. Hira, Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, National Institute of Biology, Večna Pot 111, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. E-mail:
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Repurposing Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Agonists in Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14101025. [PMID: 34681249 PMCID: PMC8538250 DOI: 10.3390/ph14101025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Common pathophysiological mechanisms have emerged for different neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions. In particular, mechanisms of oxidative stress, immuno-inflammation, and altered metabolic pathways converge and cause neuronal and non-neuronal maladaptative phenomena, which underlie multifaceted brain disorders. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptors modulating, among others, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective genes in diverse tissues. Both endogenous and synthetic PPAR agonists are approved treatments for metabolic and systemic disorders, such as diabetes, fatty liver disease, and dyslipidemia(s), showing high tolerability and safety profiles. Considering that some PPAR-acting drugs permeate through the blood-brain barrier, the possibility to extend their scope from the periphery to central nervous system has gained interest in recent years. Here, we review preclinical and clinical evidence that PPARs possibly exert a neuroprotective role, thereby providing a rationale for repurposing PPAR-targeting drugs to counteract several diseases affecting the central nervous system.
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