Mitophagy Activator

Dexamethasone (Hexadecadrol) is a glucocorticoid receptor agonist, apoptosis inducer, and common disease inducer in experimental animals, constructing models of muscle atrophy, hypertension, and depression. Dexamethasone can inhibit the production of inflammatory miRNA-155 exosomes in macrophages and significantly reduce the expression of inflammatory factors in neutrophils and monocytes. Dexamethasone also has potential for use in COVID-19 research.

Doxorubicin hydrochloride (Hydroxydaunorubicin hydrochloride; ADR), a cytotoxic anthracycline antibiotic, is an anti-cancer chemotherapy agent. Doxorubicin hydrochloride is a potent human DNA topoisomerase I and topoisomerase II inhibitor with IC₅₀s of 0.8 μM and 2.67 μM, respectively. Doxorubicin hydrochloride reduces basal phosphorylation of AMPK and its downstream target acetyl-CoA carboxylase. Doxorubicin hydrochloride induces apoptosis and autophagy.

Olaparib (AZD2281; KU0059436) is a potent and orally active PARP inhibitor with IC₅₀s of 5 and 1 nM for PARP1 and PARP2, respectively. Olaparib is an autophagy and mitophagy activator. Olaparib cannot cross the intact blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Etoposide (VP-16; VP-16-213) is an anti-cancer chemotherapy agent. Etoposide inhibits topoisomerase II, thus stopping DNA replication. Etoposide induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagy.

YHV98-4 is a selective, blood-brain barrier permeable Hv1 channel inhibitor. YHV98-4 specifically inhibits Hv1 with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 1 µM without inhibiting other ion channels. YHV98-4 reduces the propagation of p-tau. YHV98-4 increases ATP production, and enhances microglial mitophagy. YHV98-4 attenuates inflammatory pain via inhibition of Hv1 and ROS production. YHV98-4 enhances microglia-to-neuron mitochondrial transfer, promoting the delivery of functional mitochondria to rescue neuronal damage and improve cognitive function. YHV98-4 reduces inflammation. YHV98-4 can be used in the research of Alzheimer's disease.

Metformin (1,1-Dimethylbiguanide) inhibits the mitochondrial respiratory chain in the liver, leading to AMPK activation and enhancing insulin sensitivity, and can be used in the study of type 2 diabetes. Metformin exerts central glucose-lowering effects by inhibiting Ras-related protein 1 (Rap1) in SF1 hypothalamic neurons. Metformin also inhibits liver oxidative stress, nitrosative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis caused by liver ischemia/reperfusion injury. In addition, Metformin regulates the expression of autophagy-related proteins by activating AMPK and inhibiting the mTOR signaling pathway, thereby inducing tumor cell autophagy and inhibiting the growth of renal cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo.

Ruxolitinib (INCB18424) is an orally active and selective JAK1/2 inhibitor with IC₅₀s of 3.3 nM and 2.8 nM in cell-free assays, and has 130-fold selectivity for JAK1/2 over JAK3. Ruxolitinib induces autophagy and kills tumor cells through toxic mitophagy.

Quercetin, a natural flavonoid, is a stimulator of recombinant SIRT1 and also a PI3K inhibitor with IC₅₀ of 2.4 μM, 3.0 μM and 5.4 μM for PI3K γ, PI3K δ and PI3K β, respectively.

Adezmapimod (SB 203580) is a selective and ATP-competitive p38 MAPK inhibitor with IC₅₀s of 50 nM and 500 nM for SAPK2a/p38 and SAPK2b/p38β2, respectively. Adezmapimod inhibits LCK, GSK3β and PKBα with IC₅₀s of 100-500-fold higher than that for SAPK2a/p38. Adezmapimod can inhibit p38 MAPK and lead to the inhibition of downstream HSP27 phosphorylation. Adezmapimod does not disrupt JNK activity and is an autophagy and mitophagy activator.

Resveratrol (trans-Resveratrol; SRT501) is a CNS-penetrant natural polyphenolic phytoalexin that possesses anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and anti-cancer properties. Resveratrol (SRT 501) has a wide spectrum of targets including mTOR, JAK, β-amyloid, Adenylyl cyclase, IKKβ, DNA polymerase. Resveratrol also is a specific SIRT1 activator. Resveratrol is a potent pregnane X receptor (PXR) inhibitor. Resveratrol is an Nrf2 activator, ameliorates aging-related progressive renal injury in mice model. Resveratrol increases production of NO in endothelial cells.

Vorinostat (SAHA) is a potent and orally active pan-inhibitor of HDAC1, HDAC2 and HDAC3 (Class I), HDAC6 and HDAC7 (Class II) and HDAC11 (Class IV), with ID₅₀ values of 10 nM and 20 nM for HDAC1 and HDAC3, respectively. Vorinostat induces cell apoptosis. Vorinostat is also an effective inhibitor of human papillomaviruse (HPV)-18 DNA amplification.

Curcumin (Diferuloylmethane), a natural phenolic compound, is a p300/CREB-binding protein-specific inhibitor of acetyltransferase, represses the acetylation of histone/nonhistone proteins and histone acetyltransferase-dependent chromatin transcription. Curcumin is a photosensitizer against microorganisms. Curcumin shows inhibitory effects on NF-κB and MAPKs, and has diverse pharmacologic effects including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiproliferative and antiangiogenic activities. Curcumin induces stabilization of Nrf2 protein through Keap1 cysteine modification.

Simvastatin (MK 733) is a competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase with a K_i of 0.2 nM.

Valproic acid (VPA) is an orally active HDAC inhibitor, with IC₅₀ in the range of 0.5 and 2 mM. Valproic acid inhibits HDAC1 (IC₅₀, 400 μM), and induces proteasomal degradation of HDAC2. Valproic acid activates Notch1 signaling and inhibits proliferation in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells. Valproic acid is used in the epilepsy, bipolar disorder, metabolic disease, HIV infection and prevention of migraine headaches.

Oxidopamine (6-OHDA) hydrobromide is an antagonist of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Oxidopamine hydrobromide is a widely used neurotoxin and selectively destroys dopaminergic neurons. Oxidopamine hydrobromide promotes COX-2 activation, leading to PGE₂ synthesis and pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β secretion. Oxidopamine hydrobromide can be used for the research of Parkinson’s disease (PD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Lesch-Nyhan syndrome.

Hemin is an iron-containing porphyrin. Hemin is an Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 inducer.

Sunitinib (SU 11248) is a multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor with IC₅₀s of 80 nM and 2 nM for VEGFR2 and PDGFRβ, respectively. Sunitinib, an ATP-competitive inhibitor, effectively inhibits autophosphorylation of Ire1α by inhibiting autophosphorylation and consequent RNase activation.

Metformin (1,1-Dimethylbiguanide) hydrochloride inhibits the mitochondrial respiratory chain in the liver, leading to AMPK activation and enhancing insulin sensitivity, and can be used in the study of type 2 diabetes. Metformin hydrochloride exerts central glucose-lowering effects by inhibiting Ras-related protein 1 (Rap1) in SF1 hypothalamic neurons. Metformin hydrochloride also inhibits liver oxidative stress, nitrosative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis caused by liver ischemia/reperfusion injury. In addition, Metformin hydrochloride regulates the expression of autophagy-related proteins by activating AMPK and inhibiting the mTOR signaling pathway, thereby inducing tumor cell autophagy and inhibiting the growth of renal cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo.

Kaempferol (Kempferol), a flavonoid found in many edible plants, inhibits estrogen receptor α expression in breast cancer cells and induces apoptosis in glioblastoma cells and lung cancer cells by activation of MEK-MAPK. Kaempferol can be uesd for the research of breast cancer.

Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic acid) is an orally active, potent and irreversible inhibitor of cyclooxygenase COX-1 and COX-2, with IC₅₀ values of 5 and 210 μg/mL, respectively. Aspirin induces apoptosis. Aspirin inhibits the activation of NF-κB. Aspirin also inhibits platelet prostaglandin synthetase, and can prevent coronary artery and cerebrovascular thrombosis.