Therapeutic cysteine protease inhibitors: a patent review (2018-present).

INTRODUCTION: Cysteine proteases are involved in a broad range of biological functions, ranging from extracellular matrix turnover to immunity. Playing an important role in the onset and progression of several diseases, including cancer, immune-related and neurodegenerative disease, viral and parasitic infections, cysteine proteases represent an attractive drug target for the development of therapeutic tools. AREAS COVERED: Recent scientific and patent literature focusing on the design and study of cysteine protease inhibitors with potential therapeutic application has been reviewed. EXPERT OPINION: The discovery of a number of effective structurally diverse cysteine protease inhibitors opened up new challenges and opportunities for the development of therapeutic tools. Mechanistic studies and the availability of X-ray crystal structures of some proteases, alone and in complex with inhibitors, provide crucial information for the rational design and development of efficient and selective cysteine protease inhibitors as preclinical candidates for the treatment of different diseases.

The Role of Selenium in Pathologies: An Updated Review.

Selenium is an essential microelement required for a number of biological functions. Selenium-and more specifically the amino acid selenocysteine-is present in at least 25 human selenoproteins involved in a wide variety of essential biological functions, ranging from the regulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration to the biosynthesis of hormones. These processes also play a central role in preventing and modulating the clinical outcome of several diseases, including cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, mental disorders, cardiovascular disorders, fertility impairments, inflammation, and infections (including SARS-CoV-2). Over the past years, a number of studies focusing on the relationship between selenium and such pathologies have been reported. Generally, an adequate selenium nutritional state-and in some cases selenium supplementation-have been related to improved prognostic outcome and reduced risk of developing several diseases. On the other hand, supra-nutritional levels might have adverse effects. The results of recent studies focusing on these topics are summarized and discussed in this review, with particular emphasis on advances achieved in the last decade.