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The roles and functions of ergothioneine in metabolic diseases
Tingting Wen1, Wanjing Chen1, Fengjing Wang1
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Diabetes Mellitus, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shanghai Diabetes Institute, Shanghai Clinical Center for Diabetes, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200233, China; Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
Abstract:
The global prevalence of metabolic diseases is on the increase, and it has become a significant threat to the health and lives of individuals. Ergothioneine (EGT) is a natural betaine amino acid found in various foods, particularly mushrooms. EGT cannot be synthesized by mammals; it is absorbed into small intestinal epithelial cells by a cationic protein, the novel organic cation transporter 1 (OCTN1), and transported to certain organs including liver, spleen, kidney, lung, heart, eyes and brain. EGT has been reported to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-aging, and metal-chelating effects. The unique chemical properties and biological functions of EGT position it as a promising candidate for the research and treatment of metabolic diseases. This review summarizes EGT's capacities, potential therapeutic effects on multiple metabolic diseases, and their specific mechanisms. Finally, we outline challenges for future research on EGT and aspire to establish it as a prospective therapeutic agent for metabolic diseases.
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