Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy.
Unit of Neuropharmacology and Translational Neurosciences, Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, 94018 Troina, Italy.
Molecules. 2022 May 20;27(10):3303. doi: 10.3390/molecules27103303.
Carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) is a naturally occurring endogenous dipeptide and an over-the-counter food supplement with a well-demonstrated multimodal mechanism of action that includes the detoxification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, the down-regulation of the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, the inhibition of aberrant protein formation, and the modulation of cells in the peripheral (macrophages) and brain (microglia) immune systems. Since its discovery more than 100 years ago, a plethora of in vivo preclinical studies have been carried out; however, there is still substantial heterogeneity regarding the route of administration, the dosage, the duration of the treatment, and the animal model selected, underlining the urgent need for "coordinated/aligned" preclinical studies laying the foundations for well-defined future clinical trials. The main aim of the present position paper is to critically and concisely consider these key points and open a discussion on the possible "alignment" for future studies, with the goal of validating the full therapeutic potential of this intriguing molecule.
肌肽（β-丙氨酰-L-组氨酸）是一种天然存在的内源性二肽，也是一种非处方食品补充剂，具有经过充分证明的多模式作用机制，包括解毒活性氧和氮物种、下调促炎介质的产生、抑制异常蛋白质形成，以及调节外周（巨噬细胞）和大脑（小神经胶质细胞）免疫系统中的细胞。自 100 多年前发现以来，已经进行了大量的体内临床前研究；然而，关于给药途径、剂量、治疗持续时间和所选动物模型，仍然存在很大的异质性，这突出表明迫切需要“协调/一致”的临床前研究，为明确的未来临床试验奠定基础。本立场文件的主要目的是批判性和简洁地考虑这些要点，并就未来研究的可能“调整”展开讨论，目标是验证这种有趣分子的全部治疗潜力。
