{"title":"Highlighting the Therapeutic Potential of an Underexplored Target: Human Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase in Cancer, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sclerosis.","authors":"Shubham Dash, Rupali Verma, Shorya Thakur, Gurvinder Singh, Charanjit Kaur","doi":"10.2174/0115680266359269250521095346","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) enzyme plays a crucial role in the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway, catalysing the conversion of dihydroorotate to orotate in the cells. This pathway is important for the synthesis of nucleic acids and vital molecules essential for homeostasis, cellular functioning, and survival. So, targeting this enzyme can be an effective approach for the treatment of cancer, arthritis, malaria, viral or microbial infections, and other autoimmune diseases.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this review, we have highlighted the therapeutic implications of DHODH inhibition in cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis through an extensive literature survey from various scientific databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Embase, clinical trials. gov.in, Google Patents, etc. Results: We have tried to identify the pharmacophores from synthetic, phytochemical, and microbial origins, effective as DHODH inhibitors. The effect of structural changes on activity has been summarised, providing insights into the efficacy and mechanisms of these inhibitors at the molecular level. Furthermore, this review also presents a comprehensive analysis of clinical trials and patents related to DHODH inhibition to extract the valuable information to be used for clinical drug development in cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>By integrating data from synthetic, plant, and microbial sources, along with clinical trial and patent outcomes, this review highlights the diverse role of DHODH. Its inhibition offers a more targeted approach to reduce the proliferation of rapidly dividing cells while sparing normal cells, modulating specific immune responses. But, limiting understanding of resistance mechanisms and potential for toxicity are the current challenges. It offers a roadmap for future research and drug discovery endeavours focused on harnessing the beneficial potential of DHODH inhibition, including the development of novel inhibitors with improved selectivity and pharmacokinetics across a wide array of pathological conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":11076,"journal":{"name":"Current topics in medicinal chemistry","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Current topics in medicinal chemistry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115680266359269250521095346","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MEDICINAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: The dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) enzyme plays a crucial role in the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway, catalysing the conversion of dihydroorotate to orotate in the cells. This pathway is important for the synthesis of nucleic acids and vital molecules essential for homeostasis, cellular functioning, and survival. So, targeting this enzyme can be an effective approach for the treatment of cancer, arthritis, malaria, viral or microbial infections, and other autoimmune diseases.
Methods: In this review, we have highlighted the therapeutic implications of DHODH inhibition in cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis through an extensive literature survey from various scientific databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Embase, clinical trials. gov.in, Google Patents, etc. Results: We have tried to identify the pharmacophores from synthetic, phytochemical, and microbial origins, effective as DHODH inhibitors. The effect of structural changes on activity has been summarised, providing insights into the efficacy and mechanisms of these inhibitors at the molecular level. Furthermore, this review also presents a comprehensive analysis of clinical trials and patents related to DHODH inhibition to extract the valuable information to be used for clinical drug development in cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.
Conclusion: By integrating data from synthetic, plant, and microbial sources, along with clinical trial and patent outcomes, this review highlights the diverse role of DHODH. Its inhibition offers a more targeted approach to reduce the proliferation of rapidly dividing cells while sparing normal cells, modulating specific immune responses. But, limiting understanding of resistance mechanisms and potential for toxicity are the current challenges. It offers a roadmap for future research and drug discovery endeavours focused on harnessing the beneficial potential of DHODH inhibition, including the development of novel inhibitors with improved selectivity and pharmacokinetics across a wide array of pathological conditions.
期刊介绍:
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry is a forum for the review of areas of keen and topical interest to medicinal chemists and others in the allied disciplines. Each issue is solely devoted to a specific topic, containing six to nine reviews, which provide the reader a comprehensive survey of that area. A Guest Editor who is an expert in the topic under review, will assemble each issue. The scope of Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry will cover all areas of medicinal chemistry, including current developments in rational drug design, synthetic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, high-throughput screening, combinatorial chemistry, compound diversity measurements, drug absorption, drug distribution, metabolism, new and emerging drug targets, natural products, pharmacogenomics, and structure-activity relationships. Medicinal chemistry is a rapidly maturing discipline. The study of how structure and function are related is absolutely essential to understanding the molecular basis of life. Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry aims to contribute to the growth of scientific knowledge and insight, and facilitate the discovery and development of new therapeutic agents to treat debilitating human disorders. The journal is essential for every medicinal chemist who wishes to be kept informed and up-to-date with the latest and most important advances.