Unveiling the Hidden Therapeutic Potential of Carnosine, a Molecule with a Multimodal Mechanism of Action: A Position Paper.
Giuseppe CarusoPublished in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2022)
Carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) is a naturally occurring endogenous dipeptide and an over-the-counter food supplement with a well-demonstrated multimodal mechanism of action that includes the detoxification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, the down-regulation of the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, the inhibition of aberrant protein formation, and the modulation of cells in the peripheral (macrophages) and brain (microglia) immune systems. Since its discovery more than 100 years ago, a plethora of in vivo preclinical studies have been carried out; however, there is still substantial heterogeneity regarding the route of administration, the dosage, the duration of the treatment, and the animal model selected, underlining the urgent need for "coordinated/aligned" preclinical studies laying the foundations for well-defined future clinical trials. The main aim of the present position paper is to critically and concisely consider these key points and open a discussion on the possible "alignment" for future studies, with the goal of validating the full therapeutic potential of this intriguing molecule.
Keyphrases
- clinical trial
- case control
- induced apoptosis
- current status
- pain management
- cell therapy
- small molecule
- stem cells
- randomized controlled trial
- cell cycle arrest
- resting state
- amino acid
- neuropathic pain
- climate change
- risk assessment
- oxidative stress
- mesenchymal stem cells
- cell proliferation
- human health
- functional connectivity
- chemotherapy induced
- genetic diversity