TXNIP: A key protein in the cellular stress response pathway and a potential therapeutic target

Experimental & Molecular Medicine, Published online: 03 July 2023; doi:10.1038/s12276-023-01019-8A protein with the potential to fuel uncontrolled inflammation and cell death could offer a target for a variety of metabolic, neurodegenerative, and other diseases. The cellular redox system is a set of reactions that helps prevent accumulation of toxic byproducts of metabolism. Stressful conditions lead to the activation of the TXNIP protein, an inhibitor of the redox system, and Eui-Hwan Choi and Sun-Ji Park at the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation, South Korea, have reviewed how TXNIP contributes to diverse pathophysiological states. For example, TXNIP-mediated redox inhibition is associated with the nervous system inflammation seen in Alzheimer’s disease, and also contributes to premature death of insulin-secreting cells in patients with diabetes. Several drugs have been identified that can reduce TXNIP activity, and ongoing preclinical studies are now examining the therapeutic potential of such agents.
Source: Experimental and Molecular Medicine - Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Source Type: research