ijms-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Pathophysiology of Choline and Choline Transporters

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2021) | Viewed by 10132

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
Interests: molecular pharmacology; choline transporters; oncology; neuroscience
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Choline is an organic cation that is essential for the normal function of all cells. It is essential for the synthesis of membrane phospholipids, the methyl donor betaine, and the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Choline is consumed in the diet and insufficient intake may cause choline deficiency, especially under conditions that require large amounts of choline, such as pregnancy, breast-feeding and parenteral nutrition. Choline deficiency affects the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, and it is associated with liver dysfunction and cancer. Therefore, the study of choline transport and the characteristics of choline transporters are of central importance to understand the mechanisms that underlie membrane integrity and cell signaling. The choline transport system has been categorized into three transporter families. They include (I) polyspecific organic cation transporters (OCTs) with low affinity for choline, (II) high-affinity choline transporter 1 (CHT1), and (III) choline transporter-like proteins (CTLs). They are expressed in different organisms and cell types, and this implies its importance for choline transport for a broader purpose, such as acetylcholine and phospholipid synthesis.

This Special Issue focuses on the latest research on the pathophysiology of choline deficiency and its relationship to various diseases, and on the role of choline transporters in the pathophysiology and development of drugs as therapeutic targets. Authors are invited to submit original research and review papers addressing the topic of this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Masato Inazu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Choline deficiency
  • Choline transporters
  • Cancer
  • Choline-PET
  • Choline metabolism
  • Dementia
  • Acetylcholine
  • Betaine
  • Phospholipids
  • Drug target
  • Epigenetics

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

17 pages, 3330 KiB  
Article
Molecular and Functional Analysis of Choline Transporters and Antitumor Effects of Choline Transporter-Like Protein 1 Inhibitors in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells
by Kaho Hirai, Saiichiro Watanabe, Nozomi Nishijima, Kaoru Shibata, Akane Hase, Tsuyoshi Yamanaka and Masato Inazu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(15), 5190; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21155190 - 22 Jul 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4291
Abstract
Choline, an organic cation, is one of the biofactors that play an important role in the structure and the function of biological membranes, and it is essential for the synthesis of phospholipids. Choline positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) provides useful information for the [...] Read more.
Choline, an organic cation, is one of the biofactors that play an important role in the structure and the function of biological membranes, and it is essential for the synthesis of phospholipids. Choline positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) provides useful information for the imaging diagnosis of cancers, and increased choline accumulation has been identified in a variety of tumors. However, the molecular mechanisms of choline uptake and choline transporters in pancreatic cancer have not been elucidated. Here, we examined molecular and functional analyses of choline transporters in human pancreatic-cancer cell line MIA PaCa-2 and the elucidation of the action mechanism behind the antitumor effect of novel choline-transporter-like protein 1 (CTL1) inhibitors, Amb4269951 and its derivative Amb4269675. CTL1 and CTL2 mRNAs were highly expressed in MIA PaCa-2 cells, and CTL1 and CTL2 proteins were localized in the plasma membrane and the intracellular compartments, respectively. Choline uptake was characterized by Na+-independence, a single-uptake mechanism, and inhibition by choline-uptake inhibitor HC-3, similar to the function of CTL1. These results suggest that the uptake of extracellular choline in MIA PaCa-2 cells is mediated by CTL1. Choline deficiency and HC-3 treatment inhibited cell viability and increased caspase 3/7 activity, suggesting that the inhibition of CTL1 function, which is responsible for choline transport, leads to apoptosis-induced cell death. Both Amb4269951 and Amb4269675 inhibited choline uptake and cell viability and increased caspase-3/7 activity. Ceramide, which is increased by inhibiting choline uptake, also inhibited cell survival and increased caspase-3/7 activity. Lastly, both Amb4269951 and Amb4269675 significantly inhibited tumor growth in a mouse-xenograft model without any adverse effects such as weight loss. CTL1 is a target molecule for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, and its inhibitors Amb4269951 and Amb4269675 are novel lead compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathophysiology of Choline and Choline Transporters)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

13 pages, 2870 KiB  
Review
Role of Choline in Ocular Diseases
by Jin-Sun Hwang and Young-Joo Shin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(9), 4733; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22094733 - 29 Apr 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5363
Abstract
Choline is essential for maintaining the structure and function of cells in humans. Choline plays an important role in eye health and disease. It is a precursor of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic nervous system, and it is involved in the production [...] Read more.
Choline is essential for maintaining the structure and function of cells in humans. Choline plays an important role in eye health and disease. It is a precursor of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter of the parasympathetic nervous system, and it is involved in the production and secretion of tears by the lacrimal glands. It also contributes to the stability of the cells and tears on the ocular surface and is involved in retinal development and differentiation. Choline deficiency is associated with retinal hemorrhage, glaucoma, and dry eye syndrome. Choline supplementation may be effective for treating these diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathophysiology of Choline and Choline Transporters)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop