Purine metabolites and complex diseases: role of genes and nutrients

Abstract

Purpose of review Purines have several important physiological functions as part of nucleic acids and as intracellular and extracellular signaling molecules. Purine metabolites, particularly uric acid, have been implicated in congenital and complex diseases. However, their role in complex diseases is not clear and they have both beneficial and detrimental effects on disease pathogenesis. In addition, the relationship between purines and complex diseases is affected by genetic and nutritional factors. This review presents latest findings about the relationship between purines and complex diseases and the effect of genes and nutrients on this relationship. Recent findings Evidence from recent studies show strong role of purines in complex diseases. Although they are causal in only few diseases, our knowledge about their role in other diseases is still evolving. Of all the purines, uric acid is the most studied. Uric acid acts as an antioxidant as well as a prooxidant under different conditions, thus, its role in disease also varies. Other purines, adenosine and inosine have been less studied, but they have neuroprotective properties which are valuable in neurodegenerative diseases. Summary Purines are molecules with great potential in disease pathogenesis as either metabolic markers or therapeutic targets. More studies need to be conducted to understand their relevance for complex diseases.

Comparative Analysis of Metabolic Compositions and Trace Elements of Inonotus hispidus Mushroom Grown on Five Different Tree Species

“…The study of pyrimidine as a cancer locator and diagnosis and treatment drug has long been of great interest to chemists, medical scientists, and biologists as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antitumor medicine widely used in the clinic . Purine is a substance in the body, mainly in the form of purine nucleotides, which play a very important role in the energy supply, metabolic regulation, and coenzyme composition . In clinical application, cytosine and thymine are mainly used to treat a variety of disease symptoms caused by a fungal infection and have high antibacterial activity.…”

“… 22 Purine is a substance in the body, mainly in the form of purine nucleotides, which play a very important role in the energy supply, metabolic regulation, and coenzyme composition. 23 In clinical application, cytosine and thymine are mainly used to treat a variety of disease symptoms caused by a fungal infection and have high antibacterial activity. In this study, 7 pyrimidines and 12 purines (as shown in Table 4 ) were identified in I. hispidus samples grown on five tree species.…”

Potential preventive markers in the intracerebral hemorrhage process are revealed by serum untargeted metabolomics in mice using hypertensive cerebral microbleeds

“…Purines are by-products of nucleotide metabolism, primarily in the form of purine nucleotides, which play crucial roles in the production of coenzymes, regulation of metabolism, and energy supply ( 66 , 67 ). Early purine elevation can help identify early stroke patients and predict their severity ( 34 , 35 ).…”

Purinergic Signaling in Oral Tissues

“…In order to fulfill the large variety of the aforementioned effects [ 17 , 18 ], purines, in particular adenine-based compounds, must be present at extracellular level where they act as signal molecules.…”