Novel Disulfiram Derivatives as ALDH1a1-Selective Inhibitors

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family: A potential molecule target for diseases

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), a crucial aldehyde metabolizing enzyme, has six family members. The ALDH1 family is expressed in various tissues, with a significant presence in the liver. It plays a momentous role in several pathophysiological processes, including aldehyde detoxification, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation. Acetaldehyde detoxification is the fundamental function of the ALDH1 family in participating in vital pathological mechanisms. The ALDH1 family can catalyze retinal to retinoic acid (RA) that is a hormone-signaling molecule and plays a vital role in the development and adult tissues. Furthermore, there is a need for further and broader research on the role of the ALDH1 family as a signaling molecule. The ALDH1 family is widely recognized as a cancer stem cell (CSC) marker and plays a significant role in the proliferation, invasion, metastasis, prognosis, and drug resistance of cancer. The ALDH1 family also participates in other human diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, osteoarthritis, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. It can inhibit disease progression by inhibiting/promoting the expression/activity of the ALDH1 family. In this review, we comprehensively analyze the tissue distribution, and functions of the ALDH1 family. Additionally, we review the involvement of the ALDH1 family in diseases, focusing on the underlying pathological mechanisms and briefly talk about the current status and development of ALDH1 family inhibitors. The ALDH1 family presents new possibilities for treating diseases, with both its upstream and downstream pathways serving as promising targets for therapeutic intervention. This offers fresh perspectives for drug development in the field of disease research.

TMT-Based Proteomics Analysis Revealed the Protein Changes in Perirenal Fat from Obese Rabbits

Obesity has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, and there is a need for a deeper understanding of the complex pathogenesis underlying the obesity condition. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate how a high-fat diet (HFD) affects protein expression in a female-rabbit model compared to a standard normal-diet group (SND), to gain comprehensive insights into the molecular mechanisms involved in obesity. To achieve this objective, a tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics analysis was conducted to examine the molecular changes occurring in the white adipose tissue (WAT) from the HFD and SND groups. The sequencing results identified a total of 4215 proteins, among which 151 proteins exhibited significant differential expression. Specifically, there were 85 upregulated proteins and 66 downregulated proteins in the HFD group compared to the SND group. Further analysis of these differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) revealed their involvement in crucial biological processes, including energy metabolism, hormonal regulation, and inflammatory response. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the impact of HFD on protein expression in a female-rabbit model, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying obesity and the associated metabolic disorders.

The Molecular Mechanisms of Defective Copper Metabolism in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy

Copper is an essential trace metal element that significantly affects human physiology and pathology by regulating various important biological processes, including mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, connective tissue crosslinking, and antioxidant defense. Copper level has been proved to be closely related to the morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, heart failure, and diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Copper deficiency can induce cardiac hypertrophy and aggravate cardiomyopathy, while copper excess can mediate various types of cell death, such as autophagy, apoptosis, cuproptosis, pyroptosis, and cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis. Both copper excess and copper deficiency lead to redox imbalance, activate inflammatory response, and aggravate diabetic cardiomyopathy. This defective copper metabolism suggests a specific metabolic pattern of copper in diabetes and a specific role in the pathogenesis and progression of DCM. This review is aimed at providing a timely summary of the effects of defective copper homeostasis on DCM and discussing potential underlying molecular mechanisms.