title: New perspective on the dual functions of indirubins in cancer therapy and neuroprotection.
abstract: Indirubin is an active ingredient mainly used to treat leukemia in China and is reported to be a leading inhibitor of cyclindependent kinases (CDKs) and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) by competing with ATP binding sites. New findings have indicated that its comprehensive structure may contribute to its polypharmacological activities particularly in cancer and neurodegenerative disease therapy, as both of these diseases are usually accompanied by a common molecular link related to abnormal phosphorylation of CDKs and GSK-3. In the elderly, cancer and neurodegenerative disease are tightly associated common diseases and sometimes unavoidably coexist. In this review, the underlying mechanisms of the dual actions of indirubin and its structurally-related compounds in cancer and neurodegenerative disease therapy are presented.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Pui Man
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Hoi
authors.forename: Judy Yuet-Wa
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China. simonlee@umac.mo.
authors.forename: Simon M-Y
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007211:Indoles; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; C027185:indirubin