Inosine: biofunctions and the roles in human diseases.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology
• Pathology

Background:

• Inosine is a fundamental purine nucleotide, primarily recognized for its role in nucleotide synthesis.
• Beyond its building block function, inosine possesses versatile bioactive properties with significant implications in human health.
• These biofunctions are increasingly linked to various pathological conditions, including cancer, obesity, inflammation, neurodegenerative disorders, and autoimmune diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the multifaceted roles and functions of inosine across a broad spectrum of human diseases.
• To elucidate the mechanisms through which inosine influences disease pathogenesis, focusing on metabolism modulation, purinergic signaling, and RNA editing.
• To highlight the significance of inosine as a potential biomarker for diagnosing and monitoring human diseases.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing research on inosine's biofunctions.
• Analysis of studies investigating inosine's impact on metabolic pathways.
• Examination of research on inosine's involvement in purinergic signaling and RNA editing processes.

Main Results:

• Inosine plays critical roles in modulating cellular metabolism, impacting energy balance and substrate utilization relevant to diseases like obesity and cancer.
• Inosine significantly influences purinergic signaling pathways, which are implicated in inflammation, immune responses, and neurotransmission.
• Inosine is involved in RNA editing, a process that can affect gene expression and protein function, potentially contributing to disease development.

Conclusions:

• Inosine's diverse biofunctions extend beyond nucleotide synthesis, positioning it as a key player in numerous human diseases.
• Targeting inosine's roles in metabolism, purinergic signaling, and RNA editing presents promising avenues for novel therapeutic strategies.
• Further understanding of inosine's intricate involvement in disease pathogenesis could pave the way for innovative preventive and therapeutic interventions.