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Autophagy as a target for development of anti-diabetes drugs derived from natural compounds
Xiao-Wei Zhang1, Ji-Chao Zhou1, Zhuo-Wei Hu1
1a Molecular Immunology and Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines , Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College , Beijing 100050 , China.
Abstract:
Patients with diabetes have a high level of blood glucose because their body cannot produce enough insulin or properly respond to this hormone. In both situations, it has become evident that persistent high concentrations of glucose, insulin, insulin-like growth factor, and insulin resistance lead to dysfunction and destruction of autophagic activity in the cells of islet and other organs involved in complications of diabetes, including the liver, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. Accumulating evidences have revealed that autophagy is a novel therapeutic target with a wide range of beneficial effects on diabetes and that plenty of drugs and natural products are involved in autophagy modulation, either inducing or inhibiting autophagy, through multiple signaling pathways. In this review, we summarize the roles of several clinical drugs and compounds derived from natural products in diabetes and its complications through regulation of autophagy, expecting to inspire further investigation of the underlying mechanisms of these compounds and to facilitate their better clinical application.
Insights
Autophagy dysfunction contributes to diabetes complications. This review explores how drugs and natural products modulating autophagy offer therapeutic potential for managing diabetes and its related conditions.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia due to insufficient insulin production or action.
- Persistent high levels of glucose and insulin disrupt cellular autophagy, contributing to diabetes complications in organs like the liver, cardiovascular, and nervous systems.
- Autophagy impairment is increasingly recognized as a key factor in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its associated pathologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of autophagy in diabetes and its complications.
- To summarize the effects of clinical drugs and natural products on autophagy modulation in diabetes.
- To highlight autophagy as a therapeutic target for diabetes treatment and prevention of complications.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating autophagy in diabetes.
- Analysis of clinical drugs and natural compounds that modulate autophagy.
- Examination of signaling pathways involved in autophagy regulation in diabetes.
Main Results:
- Dysfunctional autophagy is implicated in the progression of diabetes and its complications.
- Various drugs and natural products demonstrate the ability to modulate autophagy, offering potential benefits.
- Targeting autophagy pathways presents a promising therapeutic strategy for diabetes management.
Conclusions:
- Autophagy plays a critical role in diabetes pathogenesis and complications.
- Modulation of autophagy by drugs and natural products holds significant therapeutic promise.
- Further research into autophagy-regulating compounds could lead to improved clinical applications for diabetes.
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