Use of human Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase (hDHODH) Inhibitors in Autoimmune Diseases and New Perspectives in Cancer Therapy

Title:Use of human Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase (hDHODH) Inhibitors in Autoimmune Diseases and New Perspectives in Cancer Therapy

Volume: 13 Issue: 1

Author(s): Marco L. Lolli, Stefano Sainas, Agnese C. Pippione, Marta Giorgis, Donatella Boschi and Franco Dosio*

Affiliation:

• Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, via Pietro Giuria 9, 10125 Turin,Italy

Keywords: Autoimmune diseases, brequinar, cancer, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), inhibitors, leflunomide, leukemia, melanoma.

Abstract: Background: Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (hDHODH, EC 1.3.5.2), a flavindependent mitochondrial enzyme involved in de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis, is a validated therapeutic target for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. However, human DHODH inhibitors have also been investigated as treatment for cancer, parasite infections (i.e. malaria) and viruses as well as in the agrochemicals industry.

Objective: An overview of current knowledge of hDHODH inhibitors and their potential uses in diseases where hDHODH is involved.

Method: This review focuses on recent advances in the development and application of hDHODH inhibitors, specifically covering the patent field, starting from a brief description of enzyme topography and of the strategies usually followed in designing its selective inhibitors.

Results: The most important and well-described novelty is the fact that the discovery, in the autumn of 2016, that hDHODH inhibitors are able to induce in vivo myeloid differentiation has led to the possibility of developing novel hDHODH based treatments for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML).

Conclusion: The review will describe a variety of specific inhibitor classes and conclude on recent and future therapeutic perspectives for this target.

Cite this article as:

Lolli L. Marco, Sainas Stefano , Pippione C. Agnese , Giorgis Marta , Boschi Donatella and Dosio Franco *, Use of human Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase (hDHODH) Inhibitors in Autoimmune Diseases and New Perspectives in Cancer Therapy, Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery 2018; 13 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1574892812666171108124218