Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry - Online First

At present, malignant tumors are still under development with an increasing trend, and their prevention, treatment, and prognosis are also difficult. The INHBA gene, also known as inhibin β, has a wide range of roles to play in this context. Through studies, several researchers have confirmed that an abnormal expression of the INHBA gene affects the development and prognosis of several malignant tumors (cervical, colorectal, breast, gastric, etc.). This study aims to investigate the relationship between INHBA and the occurrence, development, treatment, and prognosis of malignant tumors.

This review, which involved scanning of pertinent literature, describes and evaluates recent research on the biological functions and mechanisms of INHBA in malignancies.

An aberrant expression of INHBA can lead to a variety of tumors, including cervical, esophageal, breast, colorectal, squamous cell, bladder, nasopharyngeal, gastric, and ovarian cancers.

INHBA, as a protein-coding gene, can affect the development of various tumors and the prognosis of tumor patients, suggesting that INHBA can be a target for tumor therapy. However, the research on targeted therapy is still immature and has certain safety risks.

Research findings indicate that the INHBA gene plays a role in both carcinogenesis and prognosis. As such, it may have the potential utility as a biomarker or therapeutic target in the treatment of malignant tumors.

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles essential for energy metabolism and cellular homeostasis, playing critical roles in ATP production, calcium regulation, redox balance, and apoptosis. However, mitochondrial dysfunction is a central factor in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Given the essential role of mitochondria in neuronal survival, targeted therapeutic strategies that restore mitochondrial function have gained significant attention. This review explores the latest advances in mitochondrial-targeted therapies and their potential applications in neurodegenerative diseases.

A comprehensive literature review was conducted on mitochondrial-targeted therapeutic strategies, with a focus on nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems. The analysis includes various nanoparticle-based approaches, such as liposomes, DQAsomes, and polymeric nanoparticles, which have demonstrated high biocompatibility, controlled drug release, and enhanced mitochondrial targeting efficiency. Additionally, mitochondria-penetrating peptides and delocalized lipophilic cations (DLCs) are discussed for their role in improving drug localization within mitochondria and overcoming biological barriers, including the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Recent research shows the potential of mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants, peptides, and biocompatible nanocarriers in arranging mitochondrial dysfunction and protecting neurons from oxidative damage. Various nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have demonstrated the ability to selectively target mitochondria, improving drug bioavailability, therapeutic efficacy, and neuroprotective outcomes in neurodegenerative diseases.

Mitochondria-targeted therapies provide promising avenues for disease-modifying treatments aimed at preserving neuronal integrity and delaying disease progression. The unique properties of nanoparticles, such as their ability to enhance drug stability, facilitate controlled release, and achieve precise mitochondrial localization, make them valuable tools for neurodegenerative disease therapy. Future research should focus on optimizing delivery systems, validating clinical applicability, and exploring interdisciplinary approaches to accelerate translation into effective treatments.

Polysaccharide-derived biomaterials have emerged as promising candidates for wound healing applications due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to mimic the extracellular matrix. These materials play a crucial role in maintaining a moist wound environment, promoting cell proliferation, and exhibiting anti-microbial properties, making them suitable alternatives to traditional wound dressings.

A systematic literature review was conducted using reputable databases including ScienceDirect, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Relevant studies were identified, screened, and analyzed to ensure comprehensive coverage of the topic.

Wound healing is aided by essential polysaccharides such as chitosan, alginate, cellulose, and carrageenan, which help to retain moisture, promote cell proliferation, and prevent infections.

Polysaccharide-derived biomaterials, including chitosan, alginate, and cellulose, facilitate wound healing by maintaining moisture, promoting cell migration, and exhibiting anti-microbial properties. However, challenges such as weak mechanical strength and rapid degradation limit their clinical use. Recent advancements in composite hydrogels, nanomaterials, and 3D-printed scaffolds have improved stability, drug release, and anti-microbial efficacy. Further research is required to enhance their mechanical properties and long-term applicability for clinical wound care solutions.

Biomaterials developed from polysaccharides have the potential to revolutionize wound healing by providing biocompatible, adaptable solutions that promote enhanced tissue regeneration and infection control.

The development of secondary brain injury following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) involves multiple pathophysiological processes. Da-cheng-qi decoction (DCQD) has a long history of effectiveness in treating ICH and exhibits a variety of pharmacological effects. However, the phytochemicals and targets of DCQD targeting the pathophysiological processes of ICH still require further elucidation. This study aims to investigate the mechanism and key phytochemicals of DCQD in treating ICH based on the pathophysiological processes.

We used the UHPLC-MS/MS method to identify the main phytochemicals of DCQD and evaluate their pharmacological and toxicological parameters. We obtained and systematically analyzed the action targets of the main phytochemicals of DCQD and screened the targets related to ICH key pathophysiological processes and the corresponding phytochemicals. The results of molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulations, the GEO database and in vitro validation experiments confirmed the results of network pharmacology.

The 20 main phytochemicals of DCQD interact with a total of 186 targets, with 75 targets specifically associated with the treatment of ICH identified through pathophysiological processes. Among them, chrysophanol 1-glucoside, aloe emodin, emodin, hesperidin, tangeritin, rhein and physcion were recognized as the potential phytochemicals of DCQD for the treatment of ICH. Neuroinflammation is a crucial factor in the development of secondary brain injury following ICH. Further analysis results suggest that targeting ferroptosis is one of the mechanisms by which DCQD regulates the pathophysiology processes of ICH to improve ICH. In vitro cell experiment results have demonstrated the regulatory effect of naringin on TNF-α and Cox2. In addition, the phytochemicals in DCQD also contribute to enhancement of cognitive function impaired by ICH.

This study contributes to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms behind DCQD's medicinal effects in treating ICH, offering insights into potential lead compounds for the development of anti-ICH drugs.

Long noncoding RNAs are essential regulators in numerous biological processes and have been linked to various diseases including cancer. Despite their initial classification as transcriptional byproducts lncRNAs have been shown to modulate chromatin structure transcription RNA processing protein translation and intranuclear transport. LINC-PINT a lncRNA induced by P53 is particularly noteworthy for its role in tumor suppression across multiple cancers

By utilizing the PubMed database and applying inclusion criteria based on relevance literature quality and data availability we conducted a comprehensive analysis of 128 studies to provide an overview of the functions of LINC-PINT and its mechanisms of action in cancers

LINC-PINT was confirmed to function as a tumor suppressor factor in many cancers such as triple-negative breast cancer non-small cell lung cancer gastric cancer glioma melanoma osteosarcoma laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma esophageal cancer colorectal cancer nasopharyngeal carcinoma retinoblastoma ovarian cancer thyroid cancer hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatic cancer by promoting apoptosis and senescence inhibiting proliferation migration invasion drug resistance cell stemness EMT radioresistance and DNA damage repair

LINC-PINT serves as a tumor suppressor with its ability to sponge miRNAs regulate epigenetic modulation DNA damage repair etc. Despite the promising findings the complex and tissue-specific functions of LINC-PINT along with the need for further clinical validation underscore the importance of continued research to fully understand its mechanisms and potential as a therapeutic target

LINC-PINT is a potential target in cancer progression and treatment

Cancer remains a devastating global health burden. Despite the identification of numerous biological targets, effective therapeutic agents remain limited. As a highly promising novel target, the role of Discoid Domain Receptors (DDRs) in pan-cancer biology is still poorly characterized. Thus, this study aims to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms and diagnostic potential of DDR1 across different cancer types.

Herein, we used UCSC, SangerBox, GEPIA, GSCA, and GeneMANIA online databases to analyze the expression and role of DDR1 in pan-cancer.

The expression levels of DDR1 showed significant differences in some tumour T, N, and M stages. Importantly, DDR1 expression was associated with clinical prognosis in five cancers. In addition, DDR1 was inversely correlated with most immune checkpoint pathways, immunomodulatory genes, and immune cell infiltration in a few cancers. Furthermore, in most cancers, DDR1 promotes cancer progression by promoting apoptosis, inhibiting cell cycle and EMT, activating hormone AR activity, activating PI3K/AKT pathway, RASMAPK pathway, and RTK pathway. Finally, we also found that the DDR1 gene was positively associated with stemness scores in most tumors.

Our findings demonstrate that DDR1 exhibits diagnostic utility and holds promising translational potential as a therapeutic target across multiple cancer types.

Many metabolic diseases, such as Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), are largely caused by obesity, a complicated ailment characterized by excessive fat buildup. By 2030, obesity is expected to have increased in prevalence, affecting over 1 billion people worldwide. MASLD, formerly known as NAFLD, is a broad category of liver illnesses caused by metabolic dysfunction and frequently linked to obesity. Drugs are available for obesity, but long-term use causes serious adverse effects, as reported. Currently, there are no FDA-approved therapies for MASLD. Interest in marine animals and their metabolites for their potential as therapeutics is growing, given the shortcomings of traditional medicines. This review emphasizes different marine species and metabolites, and macromolecules and tabulates all the pre-clinical studies targeting obesity and MASLD.

For this review, the authors have gone through a vast number of article sources from different scientific databases like PubMed, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect.

Algae, fungi, and bacteria found in the ocean are abundant in bioactive chemicals that have anti-obesity and anti-MASLD properties. A variety of studies have reported the anti-obesity and anti-MASLD effects of marine species such as Spirulina platensis, Chlorella vulgaris, Caulerpa okamurae, and bioactive macromolecules like dieckol, fucosterol, fucoxanthin, sodium alginate and paramylon.

These marine-derived substances have a variety of pharmacological characteristics, including lipid-modulating, anti-adipogenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. These qualities are crucial for treating the underlying mechanisms that underlie obesity and MASLD. These marine species may be useful as natural supplements or therapeutic agents in the management and treatment of metabolic diseases associated with obesity. Some of these bioactive phytoconstituents have been identified for their potential against obesity and MASLD; however, more investigation is necessary to identify the precise bioactive substances causing these advantageous effects and assess their safety and effectiveness in clinical trials.