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Biochemical Pharmacology Sep 2023Medulloblastoma is a highly malignant pediatric brain tumor characterized by its aggressive nature and limited treatment options. Metabolic changes have recently emerged... (Review)
Review
Medulloblastoma is a highly malignant pediatric brain tumor characterized by its aggressive nature and limited treatment options. Metabolic changes have recently emerged as key factors in the development, progression, and response to therapy in various types of cancer. Cancer cells exhibit remarkable adaptability by modulating glucose, lipids, amino acids, and nucleotide metabolism to survive in nutrient- and oxygen-deprived environments. Although medulloblastoma has been extensively studied from a genomic perspective, leading to the identification of four subgroups and their respective subcategories, the investigation of its metabolic phenotype has remained relatively understudied. This review focus on the available literature, aiming to summarize the current knowledge about the main metabolic pathways that are deregulated in medulloblastoma tumors, while emphasizing the controversial aspects and the progress that is yet to be made. Furthermore, we underscored the insights gained so far regarding the impact of metabolism on the development of drug resistance in medulloblastoma and the therapeutic strategies employed to target specific metabolic pathways.
Topics: Humans; Medulloblastoma; Cerebellar Neoplasms; Hunger; Brain Neoplasms; Metabolic Networks and Pathways
PubMed: 37481140
DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115697 -
Biomolecules Jul 2023Despite the increasing prevalence rate of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) worldwide, efficient pharmacotherapeutic regimens against NAFLD still need to be...
BACKGROUND
Despite the increasing prevalence rate of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) worldwide, efficient pharmacotherapeutic regimens against NAFLD still need to be explored. Previous studies found that pioglitazone and metformin therapy could partly ameliorate NAFLD, but their combination therapy effects have not been researched. In the present study, we assessed the protective effects of metformin and pioglitazone combination therapy on liver lipid metabolism in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice and investigated the molecular mechanism.
METHODS
Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into five groups: normal control; HFD control; metformin monotherapy; pioglitazone monotherapy and combined therapy. After 8 weeks of pharmacological intervention, glucose and lipid metabolism characteristics, hepatic histology, lipidomics profiling and RNA-seq analysis were performed.
RESULTS
The combination of pioglitazone and metformin significantly ameliorated HFD-induced metabolic disturbance and the hepatic oil red O area. A lipidomics analysis showed that combined therapy could significantly reduce the high levels of free fatty acids (FFA), diacylglycerol and triglycerides, while a set of glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids were increased in the combined therapy group. Consistently, an RNA-seq analysis also showed a remarkable reduction in genes associated with FFA uptake and de novo lipogenesis, including , , , , , and in the combined therapy group.
CONCLUSIONS
Pioglitazone and metformin might have a synergistic protective effect on NAFLD by improving hepatic lipid profiles in HFD-induced mice. Further studies are needed to verify the clinical effects.
Topics: Male; Animals; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Lipid Metabolism; Mice, Obese; Pioglitazone; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
PubMed: 37627267
DOI: 10.3390/biom13081199 -
Annual Review of Pharmacology and... Jan 2024Pharmacogenomics (PGx) enables personalized treatment for the prediction of drug response and to avoid adverse drug reactions. Currently, PGx mainly relies on the... (Review)
Review
Pharmacogenomics (PGx) enables personalized treatment for the prediction of drug response and to avoid adverse drug reactions. Currently, PGx mainly relies on the genetic information of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) targets such as drug-metabolizing enzymes or transporters to predict differences in the patient's phenotype. However, there is evidence that the phenotype-genotype concordance is limited. Thus, we discuss different phenotyping strategies using exogenous xenobiotics (e.g., drug cocktails) or endogenous compounds for phenotype prediction. In particular, minimally invasive approaches focusing on liquid biopsies offer great potential to preemptively determine metabolic and transport capacities. Early studies indicate that ADME phenotyping using exosomes released from the liver is reliable. In addition, pharmacometric modeling and artificial intelligence improve phenotype prediction. However, further prospective studies are needed to demonstrate the clinical utility of individualized treatment based on phenotyping strategies, not only relying on genetics. The present review summarizes current knowledge and limitations.
Topics: Humans; Artificial Intelligence; Genotype; Biomarkers; Phenotype; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
PubMed: 37585662
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-032023-121106 -
Nutrients Aug 2023Metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is recognized as the most prevalent chronic liver disease globally. However, its pathogenesis remains... (Review)
Review
Metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is recognized as the most prevalent chronic liver disease globally. However, its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Recent advancements in the gut-liver axis offer novel insights into the development of MAFLD. Polysaccharides, primarily derived from fungal and algal sources, abundantly exist in the human diet and exert beneficial effects on glycometabolism, lipid metabolism, inflammation, immune modulation, oxidative stress, and the release of MAFLD. Numerous studies have demonstrated that these bioactivities of polysaccharides are associated with their prebiotic properties, including the ability to modulate the gut microbiome profile, maintain gut barrier integrity, regulate metabolites produced by gut microbiota such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and bile acids (BAs), and contribute to intestinal homeostasis. This narrative review aims to present a comprehensive summary of the current understanding of the protective effects of polysaccharides on MAFLD through their interactions with the gut microbiota and its metabolites. Specifically, we highlight the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the prebiotic effects of polysaccharides, which may give new avenues for the prevention and treatment of MAFLD.
Topics: Humans; Prebiotics; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Polysaccharides; Lipid Metabolism; Homeostasis
PubMed: 37686754
DOI: 10.3390/nu15173722 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023BS1801 is a selenium-containing drug candidate with potential for treating liver and lung fibrosis. To fully elucidate the biotransformation of BS1801 in animals and...
BS1801 is a selenium-containing drug candidate with potential for treating liver and lung fibrosis. To fully elucidate the biotransformation of BS1801 in animals and provide sufficient preclinical drug metabolism data for human mass balance study, the metabolism of BS1801 in rats was investigated. We used radiolabeling techniques to investigate the mass balance, tissue distribution, and metabolite identification of BS1801 in Sprague-Dawley/Long-Evans rats after a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg (100 μCi/kg) [C]BS1801: 1. The mean recovery of radioactive substances in urine and feces was 93.39% within 168 h postdose, and feces were the main excretion route. 2. Additionally, less than 1.00% of the dose was recovered from either urine or bile. 3. BS1801-related components were widely distributed throughout the body. 4. Fifteen metabolites were identified in rat plasma, urine, feces, and bile, and BS1801 was detected only in feces. 5. BS1801-M484, the methylation product obtained via a N-Se bond reduction in BS1801, was the most abundant drug-related component in plasma. The main metabolic pathways of BS1801 were reduction, amide hydrolysis, oxidation, and methylation. Overall, BS1801 was distributed throughout the body, and excreted mainly as an intact BS1801 form through feces. No differences were observed between male and female rats in distribution, metabolism, and excretion of BS1801.
Topics: Rats; Male; Female; Humans; Animals; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Selenium; Rats, Long-Evans; Bile; Liver; Biotransformation; Feces; Administration, Oral
PubMed: 38138590
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28248102 -
Chinese Medical Journal Feb 2024As pancreatic cancer (PC) is highly malignant, its patients tend to develop metastasis at an early stage and show a poor response to conventional chemotherapies.... (Review)
Review
As pancreatic cancer (PC) is highly malignant, its patients tend to develop metastasis at an early stage and show a poor response to conventional chemotherapies. First-line chemotherapies for PC, according to current guidelines, include fluoropyrimidine- and gemcitabine-based regimens. Accumulating research on drug resistance has shown that biochemical metabolic aberrations in PC, especially those involving glycolysis and glutamine metabolism, are highly associated with chemoresistance. Additionally, lipid metabolism is a major factor in chemoresistance. However, emerging compounds that target these key metabolic pathways have the potential to overcome chemoresistance. This review summarizes how PC develops chemoresistance through aberrations in biochemical metabolism and discusses novel critical targets and pathways within cancer metabolism for new drug research.
Topics: Humans; Gemcitabine; Deoxycytidine; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; Metabolic Reprogramming; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor
PubMed: 37545027
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000002758 -
Journal of Personalized Medicine Jul 2023Due to the chronic relapsing nature of mental disorders and increased life expectancy, the societal burden of these non-communicable diseases will increase even further.... (Review)
Review
Due to the chronic relapsing nature of mental disorders and increased life expectancy, the societal burden of these non-communicable diseases will increase even further. Treatments for mental disorders, such as depression, are available, but their effect is limited due to patients' (genetic) heterogeneity, low treatment compliance and frequent side effects. In general, only one-third of the patients respond to treatment. Today, medication selection in psychiatry relies on a trial-and-error approach based mainly on physicians' experience. Pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing can help in this process by determining the person-specific genetic factors that may predict clinical response and side effects associated with genetic variants that impact drug-metabolizing enzymes, drug transporters or drug targets. PGxis a discipline that investigates genetic factors that affect the absorption, metabolism, and transport of drugs, thereby affecting therapy outcome. These genetic factors can, among other things, lead to differences in the activity of enzymes that metabolize drugs. Studies in depressed patients show that genotyping of drug-metabolizing enzymes can increase the effectiveness of treatment, which could benefit millions of patients worldwide. This review highlights these studies, gives recommendations and provides future perspectives on how to proceed with PGx testing. Finally, it is recommended to consider genotyping for and , when there is an indication (side effects or inefficacy).
PubMed: 37511796
DOI: 10.3390/jpm13071183 -
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences :... Sep 2023Lipid species play a critical role in the growth and virulence expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB). During Mtb... (Review)
Review
Lipid species play a critical role in the growth and virulence expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB). During Mtb infection, foamy macrophages accumulate lipids in granulomas, providing metabolic adaptation and survival strategies for Mtb against multiple stresses. Host-derived lipid species, including triacylglycerol and cholesterol, can also contribute to the development of drug-tolerant Mtb, leading to reduced efficacy of antibiotics targeting the bacterial cell wall or transcription. Transcriptional and metabolic analyses indicate that lipid metabolism-associated factors of Mtb are highly regulated by antibiotics and ultimately affect treatment outcomes. Despite the well-known association between major antibiotics and lipid metabolites in TB treatment, a comprehensive understanding of how altered lipid metabolites in both host and Mtb influence treatment outcomes in a drug-specific manner is necessary to overcome drug tolerance. The current review explores the controversies and correlations between lipids and drug efficacy in various Mtb infection models and proposes novel approaches to enhance the efficacy of anti-TB drugs. Moreover, the review provides insights into the efficacious control of Mtb infection by elucidating the impact of lipids on drug efficacy. This review aims to improve the effectiveness of current anti-TB drugs and facilitate the development of innovative therapeutic strategies against Mtb infection by making reverse use of Mtb-favoring lipid species.
Topics: Humans; Lipid Metabolism; Tuberculosis; Antitubercular Agents; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Triglycerides
PubMed: 37704889
DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04914-5 -
Cell Metabolism Jun 2024Futile cycles are biological phenomena where two opposing biochemical reactions run simultaneously, resulting in a net energy loss without appreciable productivity. Such... (Review)
Review
Futile cycles are biological phenomena where two opposing biochemical reactions run simultaneously, resulting in a net energy loss without appreciable productivity. Such a state was presumed to be a biological aberration and thus deemed an energy-wasting "futile" cycle. However, multiple pieces of evidence suggest that biological utilities emerge from futile cycles. A few established functions of futile cycles are to control metabolic sensitivity, modulate energy homeostasis, and drive adaptive thermogenesis. Yet, the physiological regulation, implication, and pathological relevance of most futile cycles remain poorly studied. In this review, we highlight the abundance and versatility of futile cycles and propose a classification scheme. We further discuss the energetic implications of various futile cycles and their impact on basal metabolic rate, their bona fide and tentative pathophysiological implications, and putative drug interactions.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Energy Metabolism; Thermogenesis; Homeostasis
PubMed: 38565147
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.03.008 -
Seminars in Nephrology Nov 2023Unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) are commonly prescribed anticoagulants for chronic hemodialysis (HD). The dialysis population... (Review)
Review
Unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) are commonly prescribed anticoagulants for chronic hemodialysis (HD). The dialysis population comprises a unique group that receives heparin three times per week for a long period, with potential long-term cumulative metabolic effects such as osteoporosis and worsening lipid profile. HD patients have approximately half the number of lipases as healthy individuals, and their lipid metabolism is limited because of this decrease as well as partially inhibited function. Administration of UFH or LMWHs for anticoagulation can lead to metabolic starvation despite high triglyceride levels at the end of HD. In vitro studies indicate that UFH and LMWHs inhibit osteoblasts and promote osteoclasts. In patients on HD, long-term use of UFH or LMWHs did not worsen chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disease. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the underlining mechanisms of UFH and LMWHs and their possible influences on maintenance HD patients.
Topics: Humans; Renal Dialysis; Heparin; Anticoagulants; Lipid Metabolism; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; Bone and Bones; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Osteoporosis
PubMed: 38195305
DOI: 10.1016/j.semnephrol.2023.151480