Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT): An Update on Its Role in Cancer, Neurological and Cardiovascular Diseases.

Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol

Department of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal.

Published: April 2019

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is an enzyme that catalyses the methylation of catechol substrates, classically in catecholamine metabolism, but also acting upon other substrates such as oestrogen and polyphenols. Although its classical function has been established for more than five decades, an ever expanding COMT role in other pathways and diseases has become a subject of active study in recent years. The most highlighted domains are related with COMT involvement in neuropsychiatric disorders and its role in the neurobiology of cognition, behaviour, emotions, pain processing and perception, sleep regulation, addictive behaviour and neurodegeneration. Nonetheless, great attention is also being devoted to a possible COMT contribution to the development of cardiovascular disorders and hormonally influenced diseases, including cancer. This review aims to update the role of COMT function and its involvement in cardiovascular and neurological disorders.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/112_2017_2DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

catechol-o-methyltransferase comt
8
update role
8
comt
5
comt update
4
role
4
role cancer
4
cancer neurological
4
neurological cardiovascular
4
cardiovascular diseases
4
diseases catechol-o-methyltransferase
4

Similar Publications

Inhibition of mPFC norepinephrine improved chronic post-thoracotomy pain in adult rats.

Ann Med

December 2025

Department of Anesthesiology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.

Background: Chronic post-thoracotomy pain (CPTP) is characterized by high incidence, long duration, and severity of pain. Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is a brain region closely associated with chronic pain, and norepinephrine is involved in pain regulation. But the role of mPFC norepinephrine in CPTP and its possible mechanism is unclear.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibitors are routinely used to manage motor fluctuations in Parkinson's disease (PD). We assessed the effect of opicapone on motor symptom severity in levodopa-treated patients without motor complications.

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, 24-week, placebo-controlled study of opicapone 50 mg as adjunct to levodopa (NCT04978597).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Polylactic acid (PLA) microplastics (MPs) and lead (Pb) co-contamination, an emerging co-contamination, may profoundly impact plant growth. We aimed to evaluate the effects of PLA-MPs and Pb on buckwheat growth and physiology and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms through an integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic approach. PLA-MPs alone reduced buckwheat biomass by 26.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Interest and limits of using pharmacogenetics in MDMA-related fatalities: A case report.

Forensic Sci Int Genet

December 2024

Service de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie et Pharmacovigilance, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire d'Angers, Angers, France.

Interpreting postmortem concentrations of 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) remains challenging due to the wide range of reported results and the potential idiosyncratic nature of MDMA toxicity. Consequently, forensic pathologists often rely on a body of evidence to establish conclusions regarding the cause and the manner of death in death involving MDMA. Given these issues, implementing pharmacogenetics' (PGx)' testing may be beneficial.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: The pain experience of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) frequently consists of episodes of acute exacerbation. However, recent studies suggest that many patients who suffer from SCD have symptoms of chronic neuropathic pain. Additional research is needed to determine what role genotype plays in the patient's pain phenotype experience in SCD.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!