PIWIL4: A Promising Drug Target and Biomarker for the Treatment of Inflammatory Neurodegenerative Diseases

Target Name: PIWIL4

NCBI ID: G143689

PIWIL4

PIWIL4: A Promising Drug Target and Biomarker for the Treatment of Inflammatory Neurodegenerative Diseases

Inflammatory neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD), are characterized by the progressive destruction of nerve cells and the resulting loss of cognitive and motor function. These conditions are often accompanied by chronic pain, inflammation, and mood disorders. The current treatment options for these diseases are limited, and there is a growing need for new, more effective approaches to treat these debilitating conditions.

PIWIL4, short for Pyruvate Kinase-Induced Microglial Activation, is a protein that has been identified as a potential drug target and biomarker for the treatment of inflammatory neurodegenerative diseases. In this article, we will discuss the discovery and characterization of PIWIL4, its potential clinical applications, and the research being conducted to target this protein.

Discovery and Characterization of PIWIL4

PIWIL4 was identified as a new protein that is expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) and is involved in the metabolism of pyruvate, a critical energy source for the brain. The pyruvate metabolism pathway is a complex network of enzymes that involves multiple steps, including the inhibition of the activity of the Pyruvate Kinase (PK), which is a key enzyme in the pathway.

Investigations into the functions of PIWIL4 have led to the conclusion that this protein plays a crucial role in the regulation of microglia, which are the resident immune cells in the central nervous system. Microglia are involved in the immune response and play a key role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory neurodegenerative diseases. The activation of microglia is a hallmark feature of these diseases, and PIWIL4 has been shown to play a negative role in this process.

In addition to its role in microglia, PIWIL4 has also been shown to play a key role in the regulation of cellular metabolism and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can contribute to the development of oxidative stress and inflammation in the CNS.

Potential Clinical Applications

The potential clinical applications of PIWIL4 are vast. Given its involvement in the regulation of microglia and the production of ROS, PIWIL4 could be a promising target for the treatment of inflammatory neurodegenerative diseases.

In the context of MS, PIWIL4 has been shown to play a negative role in the development of demyelination and axonal injury. Therefore, PIWIL4 could be a promising target for the development of new treatments for MS.

In the context of Alzheimer's disease, PIWIL4 has been shown to be involved in the regulation of neurotransmitter synthesis and the production of ROS. Therefore, PIWIL4 could be a promising target for the development of new treatments for Alzheimer's disease.

In the context of Parkinson's disease, PIWIL4 has been shown to play a negative role in the regulation of dopamine synthesis and the production of ROS. Therefore, PIWIL4 could be a promising target for the development of new treatments for Parkinson's disease.

Research and Therapeutic Strategies

Several research studies have been conducted to investigate the potential clinical applications of PIWIL4. These studies have led to the conclusion that PIWIL4 is a promising drug target and biomarker for the treatment of inflammatory neurodegenerative diseases.

One of the main strategies for targeting PIWIL4 is the use of small molecules that can inhibit its activity. Several studies have shown that inhibitors of PIWIL4 can significantly reduce the production of ROS and protect against the development of neurodegeneration in animal models of MS, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.

Another strategy for targeting PIWIL4 is the use of antibodies that can specifically bind to and inhibit its

Protein Name: Piwi Like RNA-mediated Gene Silencing 4

Functions: Plays a central role during spermatogenesis by repressing transposable elements and preventing their mobilization, which is essential for the germline integrity (By similarity). Acts via the piRNA metabolic process, which mediates the repression of transposable elements during meiosis by forming complexes composed of piRNAs and Piwi proteins and governs the methylation and subsequent repression of transposons (By similarity). Directly binds piRNAs, a class of 24 to 30 nucleotide RNAs that are generated by a Dicer-independent mechanism and are primarily derived from transposons and other repeated sequence elements (By similarity). Associates with secondary piRNAs antisense and PIWIL2/MILI is required for such association (By similarity). The piRNA process acts upstream of known mediators of DNA methylation (By similarity). Does not show endonuclease activity (By similarity). Plays a key role in the piRNA amplification loop, also named ping-pong amplification cycle, by acting as a 'slicer-incompetent' component that loads cleaved piRNAs from the 'slicer-competent' component PIWIL2 and target them on genomic transposon loci in the nucleus (By similarity). May be involved in the chromatin-modifying pathway by inducing 'Lys-9' methylation of histone H3 at some loci (PubMed:17544373). In addition to its role in germline, PIWIL4 also plays a role in the regulation of somatic cells activities. Plays a role in pancreatic beta cell function and insulin secretion (By similarity). Involved in maintaining cell morphology and functional integrity of retinal epithelial through Akt/GSK3alpha/beta signaling pathway (PubMed:28025795). When overexpressed, acts as an oncogene by inhibition of apoptosis and promotion of cells proliferation in tumors (PubMed:22483988)

The "PIWIL4 Target / Biomarker Review Report" is a customizable review of hundreds up to thousends of related scientific research literature by AI technology, covering specific information about PIWIL4 comprehensively, including but not limited to:
•   general information;
•   protein structure and compound binding;
•   protein biological mechanisms;
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•   the target screening and validation;
•   expression level;
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•   drug resistance;
•   related combination drugs;
•   pharmacochemistry experiments;
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•   advantages and risks of development, etc.
The report is helpful for project application, drug molecule design, research progress updates, publication of research papers, patent applications, etc. If you are interested to get a full version of this report, please feel free to contact us at BD@silexon.ai

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