A virtual metabolic human model is a valuable complement to experimental biology and clinical studies, because research involves serious ethical and technical problems. I have proposed a multi-organ and multi-scale kinetic model that formulates the reactions of enzymes and transporters with the regulation of hormonal actions at postprandial and postabsorptive states. The computational model consists of 202 ordinary differential equations for metabolites with 217 reaction rates and 1,140 kinetic parameter constants. It is the most comprehensive, largest, and highly predictive model of the whole-body metabolism. Use of the model revealed the mechanisms by which individual disorders, such as steatosis, β cell dysfunction, and insulin resistance, were combined to cause diabetes. The model predicted a glycerol kinase inhibitor to be an effective medicine for type 2 diabetes, which not only decreased hepatic triglyceride but also reduced plasma glucose. The model also enabled us to rationally design combination therapy.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.102101 | DOI Listing |
Mol Immunol
January 2025
Chinese Medicine Research and Development Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Master Program of Pharmaceutical Manufacture, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address:
The immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor FcεRI (Fc epsilon RI) plays a crucial role in allergic reactions. Recent studies have indicated that the interaction between FcεRIβ and the downstream protein phospholipase C beta 3 (PLCβ3) leads to the production of inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was to develop small molecules that inhibit the protein-protein interactions between FcεRIβ and PLCβ3 to treat allergic inflammation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Med Virol
February 2025
Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medicine, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Virus budding is a critical step in the replication cycle of enveloped viruses, closely linked to viral spread, disease progression, and clinical outcomes. The budding of many enveloped RNA viruses is facilitated by the hijacking of the host endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) proteins through viral late domains. These late domains are essential for progeny virus production and are highly conserved, making the interaction between late domains and host ESCRT proteins a potential target for the development of antiviral therapeutics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChem Biol Interact
January 2025
Anhui Prevention and Control Engineering Research Center for Fatty Liver Disease, Hefei, Anhui, 230032,P. R. China; The Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China; Inflammation and Immune-Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, China. Electronic address:
Oxidative stress induced by excess ethanol is an important factor in the progression of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). In recent years, inhibiting Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) to activate the antioxidant regulator Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) has been considered an effective strategy for treating oxidative stress-related diseases, but its application in ALD remains insufficiently explored. This study aims to discover high-affinity inhibitors targeting the KEAP1 receptor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMolecules
January 2025
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia.
Dual inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and lipoxygenase (LOX) is a recognized strategy for enhanced anti-inflammatory effects in small molecules, offering potential therapeutic benefits for individuals at risk of dementia, particularly those with neurodegenerative diseases, common cancers, and diabetes type. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, and the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a key approach in treating AD. Meanwhile, Caspase-3 catalyzes early events in apoptosis, contributing to neurodegeneration and subsequently AD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Mol Sci
January 2025
Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, Italy.
Precise binding free-energy predictions for ligands targeting metalloproteins, especially zinc-containing histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes, require specialized computational approaches due to the unique interactions at metal-binding sites. This study evaluates a docking algorithm optimized for zinc coordination to determine whether it could accurately differentiate between protonated and deprotonated states of hydroxamic acid ligands, a key functional group in HDAC inhibitors (HDACi). By systematically analyzing both protonation states, we sought to identify which state produces docking poses and binding energy estimates most closely aligned with experimental values.
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