TY - JOUR
T1 - Advances in Protozoan Epigenetic Targets and Their Inhibitors for the Development of New Potential Drugs
AU - Gaona-López, Carlos
AU - Vazquez-Jimenez, Lenci K.
AU - Gonzalez-Gonzalez, Alonzo
AU - Delgado-Maldonado, Timoteo
AU - Ortiz-Pérez, Eyrá
AU - Nogueda-Torres, Benjamín
AU - Moreno-Rodríguez, Adriana
AU - Vázquez, Karina
AU - Saavedra, Emma
AU - Rivera, Gildardo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/4
Y1 - 2023/4
N2 - Protozoan parasite diseases cause significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. Factors such as climate change, extreme poverty, migration, and a lack of life opportunities lead to the propagation of diseases classified as tropical or non-endemic. Although there are several drugs to combat parasitic diseases, strains resistant to routinely used drugs have been reported. In addition, many first-line drugs have adverse effects ranging from mild to severe, including potential carcinogenic effects. Therefore, new lead compounds are needed to combat these parasites. Although little has been studied regarding the epigenetic mechanisms in lower eukaryotes, it is believed that epigenetics plays an essential role in vital aspects of the organism, from controlling the life cycle to the expression of genes involved in pathogenicity. Therefore, using epigenetic targets to combat these parasites is foreseen as an area with great potential for development. This review summarizes the main known epigenetic mechanisms and their potential as therapeutics for a group of medically important protozoal parasites. Different epigenetic mechanisms are discussed, highlighting those that can be used for drug repositioning, such as histone post-translational modifications (HPTMs). Exclusive parasite targets are also emphasized, including the base J and DNA 6 mA. These two categories have the greatest potential for developing drugs to treat or eradicate these diseases.
AB - Protozoan parasite diseases cause significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. Factors such as climate change, extreme poverty, migration, and a lack of life opportunities lead to the propagation of diseases classified as tropical or non-endemic. Although there are several drugs to combat parasitic diseases, strains resistant to routinely used drugs have been reported. In addition, many first-line drugs have adverse effects ranging from mild to severe, including potential carcinogenic effects. Therefore, new lead compounds are needed to combat these parasites. Although little has been studied regarding the epigenetic mechanisms in lower eukaryotes, it is believed that epigenetics plays an essential role in vital aspects of the organism, from controlling the life cycle to the expression of genes involved in pathogenicity. Therefore, using epigenetic targets to combat these parasites is foreseen as an area with great potential for development. This review summarizes the main known epigenetic mechanisms and their potential as therapeutics for a group of medically important protozoal parasites. Different epigenetic mechanisms are discussed, highlighting those that can be used for drug repositioning, such as histone post-translational modifications (HPTMs). Exclusive parasite targets are also emphasized, including the base J and DNA 6 mA. These two categories have the greatest potential for developing drugs to treat or eradicate these diseases.
KW - drugs
KW - epigenetic targets
KW - inhibitors
KW - protozoa
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85154599396&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ph16040543
DO - 10.3390/ph16040543
M3 - Artículo de revisión
C2 - 37111300
AN - SCOPUS:85154599396
SN - 1424-8247
VL - 16
JO - Pharmaceuticals
JF - Pharmaceuticals
IS - 4
M1 - 543
ER -