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Kawczak P, Feszak I, Brzeziński P, Bączek T. Structure-Activity Relationships and Therapeutic Applications of Retinoids in View of Potential Benefits from Drug Repurposing Process. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1059. [PMID: 38791021 PMCID: PMC11117600 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12051059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Vitamin A, an essential micronutrient, is integral to various biological processes crucial for organismal development and maintenance. Dietary sources of vitamin A encompass preformed retinol, retinyl esters, and provitamin A carotenoids. Retinoic acid (RA), a key component, plays pivotal roles in vision, cell proliferation, apoptosis, immune function, and gene regulation. Drug repurposing, an effective strategy for identifying new therapeutic applications for existing drugs, has gained prominence in recent years. This review seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape surrounding retinoids and drug repurposing. The scope of this review encompasses a comprehensive examination of retinoids and their potential for repurposing in various therapeutic contexts. Despite their efficacy in treating dermatological conditions, concerns about toxicity persist, driving the search for safer and more potent retinoids. The molecular mechanisms underlying retinoid activity involve binding to retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs), leading to transcriptional regulation of target genes. This review seeks to shed light on the possibilities for repurposing retinoids to cover a wider spectrum of therapeutic uses by exploring recent scientific progress. It also aims to offer a more comprehensive understanding of the therapeutic prospects of retinoids and the broader impact of drug repositioning in contemporary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Kawczak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland;
| | - Igor Feszak
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian University in Słupsk, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland;
| | - Piotr Brzeziński
- Department of Physiotherapy and Medical Emergency, Institute of Health Sciences, Pomeranian University in Słupsk, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland;
- Department of Dermatology, Voivodeship Specialist Hospital, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland
| | - Tomasz Bączek
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-416 Gdańsk, Poland;
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian University in Słupsk, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland;
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Popescu RG, Dinischiotu A, Soare T, Vlase E, Marinescu GC. Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) Works in Type 2 Diabetes through Unexpected Effects in Adipose Tissue, Not by Mitochondrial Biogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2594. [PMID: 38473844 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) has emerged as a promising therapeutic intervention for age-related disorders, including type 2 diabetes. In this study, we confirmed the previously observed effects of NMN treatment on glucose uptake and investigated its underlying mechanisms in various tissues and cell lines. Through the most comprehensive proteomic analysis to date, we discovered a series of novel organ-specific effects responsible for glucose uptake as measured by the IPGTT: adipose tissue growing (suggested by increased protein synthesis and degradation and mTOR proliferation signaling upregulation). Notably, we observed the upregulation of thermogenic UCP1, promoting enhanced glucose conversion to heat in intermuscular adipose tissue while showing a surprising repressive effect on mitochondrial biogenesis in muscle and the brain. Additionally, liver and muscle cells displayed a unique response, characterized by spliceosome downregulation and concurrent upregulation of chaperones, proteasomes, and ribosomes, leading to mildly impaired and energy-inefficient protein synthesis machinery. Furthermore, our findings revealed remarkable metabolic rewiring in the brain. This involved increased production of ketone bodies, downregulation of mitochondrial OXPHOS and TCA cycle components, as well as the induction of well-known fasting-associated effects. Collectively, our data elucidate the multifaceted nature of NMN action, highlighting its organ-specific effects and their role in improving glucose uptake. These findings deepen our understanding of NMN's therapeutic potential and pave the way for novel strategies in managing metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roua Gabriela Popescu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
- Independent Research Association, 012416 Bucharest, Romania
- Blue Screen SRL, 012416 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Anca Dinischiotu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Teodoru Soare
- Pathology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 050097 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ene Vlase
- Animals Facility Laboratory, Cantacuzino National Institute for Medico-Military Research and Development, 013821 Bucharest, Romania
| | - George Cătălin Marinescu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
- Independent Research Association, 012416 Bucharest, Romania
- Blue Screen SRL, 012416 Bucharest, Romania
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Johra FT, Hossain S, Jain P, Bristy AT, Emran T, Ahmed R, Sharker SM, Bepari AK, Reza HM. Amelioration of CCl 4-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity by Ganoderma lucidum in long evans rats. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9909. [PMID: 37336915 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35228-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver disease is a serious health problem affecting people worldwide at an alarming rate. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Ganoderma lucidum against CCl4-induced liver toxicity in rats. The experimental Long Evans rats were divided into five groups, of which four groups were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Among the CCl4 treated groups, one of the groups was treated with silymarin and two of them with ethanolic extract of G. lucidum at 100 and 200 mg/Kg body weight. The oxidative stress parameters and endogenous antioxidant enzyme concentrations were assessed by biochemical tests. Liver enzymes ALT, AST, and ALP were determined spectrophotometrically. Histopathological examinations were carried out to assess hepatic tissue damage and fibrosis. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) was performed to determine the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and TGF-β genes. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis revealed that G. lucidum is rich in several phytochemicals including 6-Octadecanoic acid (55.81%), l-( +)-Ascorbic acid 2,6-dihexadecanoate (18.72%), Cis-11-Eicosenamide (5.76%), and Octadecanoic acid (5.26%). Treatment with the G. lucidum extract reduced the elevated ALT, AST, ALP levels, and cellular oxidative stress markers and increased the endogenous antioxidant levels. Histopathology observations revealed that the inflammation, infiltration of immune cells, and aberration of collagen fibers in the hepatocytes were altered by the G. lucidum treatment. The increased expression of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-1 β, and IL-6 were markedly suppressed by G. lucidum extract treatment. G. lucidum also prevented the suppression of protective IL-10 expression by CCl4. This study strongly suggests that G. lucidum extract possesses significant hepatoprotective activity as evidenced by reduced oxidative stress and inflammation mediated by suppression in inflammatory cytokine expression and increased protective IL-10 cytokine expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Tuj Johra
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Sukria Hossain
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Preeti Jain
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh.
| | - Anika Tabassum Bristy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Tushar Emran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Rezwana Ahmed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Shazid Md Sharker
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Asim Kumar Bepari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Hasan Mahmud Reza
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh.
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Osanai M, Takasawa A, Takasawa K, Kyuno D, Ono Y, Magara K. Retinoic acid metabolism in cancer: potential feasibility of retinoic acid metabolism blocking therapy. Med Mol Morphol 2023; 56:1-10. [PMID: 36592231 DOI: 10.1007/s00795-022-00345-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA) is an active metabolite of vitamin A, which is an essential signaling molecule involved in cell fate decisions, such as differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis, in a wide variety of cell types. Accumulated data have demonstrated that expression of RA-metabolizing enzymes, CYP26A1, B1, and C1 (cytochrome P450, family 26A1, B1, and C1, respectively), protects cells and tissues from exposure to RA through restriction of RA access to transcriptional machinery by converting RA to rapidly excreted derivatives. CYP26 enzymes play similar but separate roles in limiting the consequences of fluctuations in nutritional vitamin A. Recently, we found that RA depletion caused by expression of CYP26A1 promotes malignant behaviors of tumor cells derived from various tissues, implicating CYP26A1 as a candidate oncogene. We also showed that the expression levels of CYP26 enzymes are elevated in various types of cancer. We have provided evidence for oncogenic and cell survival properties of CYP26 enzymes, indicating that these molecules are possible therapeutic targets for CYP26-expressing malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Osanai
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, South-1, West-17, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo, 060-8556, Japan.
| | - Akira Takasawa
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, South-1, West-17, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo, 060-8556, Japan
| | - Kumi Takasawa
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, South-1, West-17, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo, 060-8556, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kyuno
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, South-1, West-17, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo, 060-8556, Japan
| | - Yusuke Ono
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, South-1, West-17, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo, 060-8556, Japan
| | - Kazufumi Magara
- Department of Pathology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, South-1, West-17, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo, 060-8556, Japan
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Fibrogenic Pathways in Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD). Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23136996. [PMID: 35805998 PMCID: PMC9266719 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23136996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), recently also re-defined as metabolic dysfunction associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), is rapidly increasing, affecting ~25% of the world population. MALFD/NAFLD represents a spectrum of liver pathologies including the more benign hepatic steatosis and the more advanced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH is associated with enhanced risk for liver fibrosis and progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) activation underlies NASH-related fibrosis. Here, we discuss the profibrogenic pathways, which lead to HSC activation and fibrogenesis, with a particular focus on the intercellular hepatocyte–HSC and macrophage–HSC crosstalk.
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