Palmitoylation of PKCδ by ZDHHC5 in hypothalamic microglia presents as a therapeutic target for fatty liver disease

Palmitoylation in cardiovascular diseases: Molecular mechanism and therapeutic potential

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and involves complex pathophysiological mechanisms that encompass various biological processes and molecular pathways. Post-translational modifications of proteins play crucial roles in the occurrence and progression of cardiovascular diseases, among which palmitoylation is particularly important. Various proteins associated with cardiovascular diseases can be palmitoylated to enhance the hydrophobicity of their molecular subdomains. This lipidation can significantly affect some pathophysiological processes, such as metabolism, inflammation by altering protein stability, localization, and signal transduction. In this review, we narratively summarize recent advances in the palmitoylation of proteins related to cardiovascular diseases and discuss its potential as a therapeutic target.

Recent advances in target identification technology of natural products

Natural products, characterized by their structural diversity, broad spectrum of biological activities, and safe yet effective therapeutic potential, have become pivotal resources in drug research and development. However, the target proteins of many natural products remain unidentified, a significant challenge that impedes their development into viable drug candidates. Therefore, the target identification is crucial for elucidating the pharmacological mechanisms of natural products and facilitating their therapeutic applications. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in methodologies for target identification of natural products. Additionally, we predict future developments in new technologies for target discovery. Collectively, this review establishes a methodological framework for uncovering the cellular targets and pharmacological mechanisms of natural products, thereby advancing the development of innovative natural product-based drugs.

Traditional Herbal Medicine Pithecellobium clypearia (Jack) Benth: Research progress in chemical constituents and pharmacological activities

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Pithecellobium clypearia, a traditional herbal medicine, has garnered widespread attention for its significant anti-infective benefits. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive reviews examining the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of P. clypearia.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

This review aims to investigate the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of P. clypearia, and to explore its potential for wider medical applications through the synthesis of these findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI, Google Scholar, and WanFang databases were searched for Pithecellobium clypearia, Using "Pithecellobium clypearia", "Archidendron clypearia", "pharmacology", "chemical composition" and "biological activity", as the keywords, we summarized the main chemical compositions and pathological mechanisms of P. clypearia.

RESULTS

A total of 129 compounds were isolated from P. clypearia, the primary active components identified include flavonoids, polysaccharides, lignins, triterpenoids, steroids, and phenolic acids. These compounds contribute to the medicinal plant's diverse pharmacological effects, which include antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. P. clypearia presents great potential, especially in its antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects, indicating its valuable role in future therapeutic strategies.

CONCLUSION

P. clypearia has demonstrated effectiveness and safety in treating various respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases. It shows good monotherapy efficacy and significantly enhances overall treatment outcomes when used in combination therapy. P. clypearia is a valuable treatment option for patients of different age groups and provides a safe and effective alternative in various clinical settings.

Mechanisms and functional implications of ZDHHC5 in cellular physiology and disease

Post-translational lipid modification by palmitoylation is a reversible process crucial for maintaining cellular functionality. The palmitoyl acyltransferase zinc finger Asp-His-His-Cys motif-containing 5 (ZDHHC5) has garnered significant attention due to its roles in neurodegenerative diseases, oncogenesis, and cardiac function. ZDHHC5 recognizes substrates through diverse mechanisms and its activity is regulated by multiple factors. Highly expressed in the brain, liver, and heart, ZDHHC5 exerts regulatory functions in various cellular processes through self-regulation and substrate palmitoylation. This review summarizes ZDHHC5's regulatory roles in the nervous system, lipid metabolism and oncogenesis, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for neurological, lipid metabolic diseases, and cancer due to its involvement in diverse cellular processes and disease-associated dysfunctions.

Regulation and Function of the cGAS-STING Pathway: Mechanisms, Post-Translational Modifications, and Therapeutic Potential in Immunotherapy

Autoimmune diseases arise when the immune system attacks healthy tissues, losing tolerance for self-tissues. Normally, the immune system recognizes and defends against pathogens like bacteria and viruses. The cGAS-STING pathway, activated by pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs), plays a key role in autoimmune responses. The cGAS protein senses pathogenic DNA and synthesizes cGAMP, which induces conformational changes in STING, activating kinases IKK and TBK1 and leading to the expression of interferon genes or inflammatory mediators. This pathway is crucial in immunotherapy, activating innate immunity, enhancing antigen presentation, modulating the tumor microenvironment, and integrating into therapeutic strategies. Modulation strategies include small molecule inhibitors, oligonucleotide therapies, protein and antibody therapies, genetic and epigenetic regulation, cytokine and metabolite modulation, and nanoscale delivery systems. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of the cGAS-STING pathway, such as phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, methylation, palmitoylation, and glycosylation, fine-tune immune responses by regulating protein activity, stability, localization, and interactions. These modifications are interconnected and collectively influence pathway functionality. We summarize the functions of cGAS-STING and its PTMs in immune and non-immune cells across various diseases, and explore potential clinical applications.

New drug discovery and development from natural products: Advances and strategies

Natural products (NPs) have a long history as sources for drug discovery, more than half of approved drugs are related to NPs, which also exhibit multifaceted advantages in the clinical treatment of complex diseases. However, bioactivity screening of NPs, target identification, and design optimization require continuously improved strategies, the complexity of drug mechanism of action and the limitations of technological strategies pose numerous challenges to the development of new drugs. This review begins with an overview of bioactivity- and target-based drug development patterns for NPs, advances in NP screening and derivatization, and the advantages and problems of major targets such as genes and proteins. Then, target-based drugs as well as identification and validation methods are further discussed to elucidate their mechanism of action. Subsequently, the current status and development trend of the application of traditional and emerging technologies in drug discovery and development of NPs are systematically described. Finally, the collaborative strategy of multi-technology integration and multi-disciplinary intersection is emphasized for the challenges faced in the identification, optimization, activity evaluation, and clinical application of NPs. It is hoped to provide a systematic overview and inspiration for exploring new drugs from natural resources in the future.

Small-molecule targeting PKM2 provides a molecular basis of lactylation-dependent fibroblast-like synoviocytes proliferation inhibition against rheumatoid arthritis

Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) play an important role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related swelling and bone damage. Therefore, novel targets for RA therapy in FLS are urgently discovered for improving pathologic phenomenon, especially joint damage and dyskinesia. Here, we suggested that pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) in FLS represented a pharmacological target for RA treatment by antimalarial drug artemisinin (ART). We demonstrated that ART selectively inhibited human RA-FLS and rat collagen-induced arthritis (CIA)-FLS proliferation and migration without observed toxic effects. In particular, the identification of targets revealed that PKM2 played a crucial role as a primary regulator of the cell cycle, leading to the heightened proliferation of RA-FLS. ART exhibited a direct interaction with PKM2, resulting in an allosteric modulation that enhances the lactylation modification of PKM2. This interaction further promoted the binding of p300, ultimately preventing the nuclear translocation of PKM2 and inducing cell cycle arrest at the S phase. In vivo, ART obviously suppressed RA-mediated synovial hyperplasia, bone damage and inflammatory response to further improve motor behavior in CIA-rats. Taken together, these findings indicate that directing interventions towards PKM2 in FLS could offer a hopeful avenue for pharmaceutical treatments of RA through the regulation of cell cycle via PKM2 lactylation.