Myo-Inositol Oxygenase (MIOX): A Pivotal Regulator and Therapeutic Target in Multiple Diseases

Myo-inositol oxygenase (MIOX), as the sole enzyme catalyzing myo-inositol (MI) catabolism in mammals, plays a central role in maintaining intracellular MI homeostasis. Dysregulation of MIOX activity disrupts MI metabolic balance, leading to pathological processes including oxidative stress, inflammation, and ferroptosis, which subsequently induce multiple diseases such as metabolic syndrome, neurological disorders, tumors, and reproductive/developmental disorders. This article systematically reviews the structure and function of MIOX as well as the pathological consequences arising from its dysregulation. Although its pathological significance is increasingly recognized, the molecular mechanisms of MIOX in many diseases have not been fully elucidated, and targeted modulators of MIOX are lacking. Future research should focus on the in-depth elucidation of the pathogenic mechanisms of MIOX disorders and the development of MIOX modulators, thereby providing precise therapeutic strategies for related diseases.