Ebselen, a multi-target compound: its effects on biological processes and diseases

• Published in: Expert reviews in molecular medicine Vol. 23
• Main Authors: Lu, Qianqian, Cai, Yi, Xiang, Chenyan, Wu, Tao, Zhao, Ying, Wang, Jun, Wang, Helen, Zou, Lili
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 2021
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease; Amino acids; Antioxidant; Apoptosis; biological process; Cell differentiation; Clinical trials; ebselen; Enzymes; Glutathione peroxidase; Gram-positive bacteria; Immunoregulation; Kinases; Metabolism; Mimicry; multiple targets; Neurodegenerative diseases; Oxidative stress; Proteins; Review; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Signal transduction; Stroke; Thioredoxin; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Tumors; ebselen; biological process; Antioxidant; multiple targets
• ISSN: 1462-3994; 1462-3994
• DOI: 10.1017/erm.2021.14

Ebselen is a well-known synthetic compound mimicking glutathione peroxidase (GPx), which catalyses some vital reactions that protect against oxidative damage. Based on a large number of in vivo and in vitro studies, various mechanisms have been proposed to explain its actions on multiple targets. It targets thiol-related compounds, including cysteine, glutathione, and thiol proteins (e.g., thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase). Owing to this, ebselen is a unique multifunctional agent with important effects on inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, cell differentiation, immune regulation and neurodegenerative disease, with anti-microbial, detoxifying and anti-tumour activity. This review summarises the current understanding of the multiple biological processes and molecules targeted by ebselen, and its pharmacological applications.