pathogenesis

Parkinson’s disease (PD), the second most common age-associated neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons and the presence of α-synuclein-containing aggregates in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Motor features such as tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and postural instability are common traits of PD. To date, there is no treatment to stop or at least slow down the progression of the disease. The etiology and pathogenesis of PD is still elusive, however, a large body of evidence suggests a prominent role of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction and proteasome dysfunction in the pathogenesis of PD.

MCE offers a unique collection of 1339 compounds with anti- Parkinson’s Disease activities or targeting the unique targets of PD. MCE Anti- Parkinson's Disease Compound Library is a useful tool for exploring the mechanism of PD and discovering new drugs for PD.

Diabetes mellitus, usually called diabetes, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level over a prolonged period of time. The most common types are Type I and Type II. Type I diabetes (T1D), also called juvenile onset diabetes mellitus or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, is characterized by destruction of the β-cells of the pancreas and insulin is not produced, whereas type II diabetes (T2D), also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, is characterized by a progressive impairment of insulin secretion and relative decreased sensitivity of target tissues to the action of this hormone. Type 2 diabetes accounts for the vast majority of all diabetes mellitus. Diabetes of all types can lead to complications in many parts of the body and can increase the overall risk of dying prematurely. Possible complications include kidney failure, leg amputation, vision loss and nerve damage.

The pathogenesis of diabetes is complicated, and development of the safe and effective drugs against diabetes is full of challenge. Increasing studies have confirmed that the pathogenesis of diabetes is related to various signaling pathways, such as insulin signaling pathway, AMPK pathway, PPAR regulation and chromatin modification pathways. These signaling pathways have thus become the major source of the promising novel drug targets to treat metabolic diseases and diabetes.

MCE Anti-diabetic Compound Library owns a unique collection of 740 compounds, which mainly target SGLT, PPAR, DPP-4, AMPK, Dipeptidyl Peptidase, Glucagon Receptor, etc. This library is a useful tool for discovery anti-diabetes drugs.

Transcription is the essential first step in the conversion of the genetic information in the DNA into protein and the major point at which gene expression is controlled. Transcription of protein-coding genes is accomplished by the multi-subunit enzyme RNA polymerase II and an ensemble of ancillary proteins, called transcription factors (TFs). Transcription factors play an important role in the long-term regulation of cell growth, differentiation and responses to environmental cues. Deregulated transcription factors contribute to the pathogenesis of a plethora of human diseases, ranging from diabetes, inflammatory disorders and cardiovascular disease to many cancers, and thus these proteins hold great therapeutic potential.

MCE offers a unique collection of 1288 compounds with validated transcription factor targets modulating properties. MCE transcription factor-targeted compound library is an effective tool for researching transcription factors as drug targets as well as modulation of TFs for different therapeutic applications.

Cytokines are a kind of low molecular soluble proteins synthesized and secreted by immunogen, mitogen or other factors. They have functions of regulating innate and adaptive immune responses, promoting hematopoiesis, stimulating cell activation, proliferation and differentiation. The process of releasing a large number of cytokines is also called “Cytokine storm”, which can cause damage to many tissues and organs in the body. Cytokine is involved in the pathogenesis of many human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, chronic inflammatory diseases and so on. Cytokine inhibitors are a class of essential compounds that act by directly inhibiting the synthesis and release of cytokine or blocking the binding of cytokine to their receptors. Cytokine inhibitors are important compounds for the study of tumor and autoimmune diseases.

MCE designs a unique collection of 820 cytokine inhibitors, mainly targeting the receptor interleukin (IL), colony-stimulating factor (CSF), interferon (IFN), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), growth factor (GF) and chemokine, which is an effective tool for development and research of anti-cancer, anti-chronic inflammatory diseases and anti-autoimmune diseases compounds.

Most of molecules enter or leave cells mainly via membrane transport proteins, which play important roles in several cellular functions, including cell metabolism, ion homeostasis, signal transduction, the recognition process in the immune system, energy transduction, etc. There are three major types of transport proteins, ATP-powered pumps, channel proteins and transporters. Transport proteins such as channels and transporters play important roles in the maintenance of intracellular homeostasis, and mutations in these transport protein genes have been identified in the pathogenesis of a number of hereditary diseases. In the central nervous system, ion channels have been linked to, but not limited to, many diseases such asataxias, paralyses, epilepsies, and deafness. This indicates the roles of ion channels in the initiation and coordination of movement, sensory perception, and encoding and processing of information. Ion channels are a major class of drug targets in drug development.

MCE designs a unique collection of 1392 smal-molecule modulators that can be used for the research of Ion Channel and Membrane Transporter or high throughput screening (HTS) related drug discovery.

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/Rel proteins include NF-κB2 p52/p100, NF-κB1 p50/p105, c-Rel, RelA/p65, and RelB. These proteins function as dimeric transcription factors that regulate the expression of genes and influence a broad range of biological processes including innate and adaptive immunity, inflammation, stress responses, B-cell development, and lymphoid organogenesis. NF-κB plays a key role in regulating the immune response to infection. In addition, activation of the NF-κB pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Incorrect regulation of NF-κB has been linked to cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, septic shock, viral infection, and improper immune development.

MCE owns a unique collection of 805 small molecule compounds that can be used in the research of NF-κB signaling pathway or high throughput screening (HTS) related drug discovery.