Advances in 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Applications in Medical and Healthcare
A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmaceutical Science".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 29 July 2025 | Viewed by 853
Special Issue Editors
2. NX Development Corporation, Lexington, KY 40503, USA
3. School of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata-shi 990-9585, Yamagata, Japan
4. Graduate School of Health Management, Keio University, Fujisawa-shi 252-0883, Kanagawa, Japan
Interests: drug discovery; mitochondrial deficiency; cancer diagnosis and therapy; cancer metastasis; metabolic diseases; aging; neurodegenerative diseases; cardiovascular diseases; medical and healthcare applications of 5-aminolaevulinic acid
Interests: neurosurgical oncology; fluoresence-guided resections; skull base surgery; endoscopic surgery
Interests: drug discovery; cancer diagnosis; cancer therapy; biomarkers; cell physiological engineering; medical applications of 5-aminolaevulinic acid
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is the sole source of heme biosynthesis. It is produced from glycine and succinyl CoA by aminolaevulinic acid synthetase (ALA synthetase) in mammalian mitochondria. Heme is an essential component of the electron transport chain. Heme is crucial in the proper functioning of cytochrome c and other enzymes within the mitochondrial respiratory complexes, which are involved in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and ATP production; furthermore, enhancing mitochondrial function can reduce oxidative stress and lower the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during respiration. Mitochondria are cellular power plants that produce ATPs as energy carriers by metabolizing carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins and producing water from oxygen and protons. Mitochondrial functions and activities have recently been highlighted from medical and healthcare points of view, and mitochondrial deficiency is a key focus as a primary cause of various diseases related to aging.
As exogenously administered 5-ALA molecules are also introduced into the heme biosynthesis pathway, 5-ALA can energize the mitochondria, enhance various metabolisms, and produce water in cells. These mechanisms, among others, are utilized in the treatment of diseases such as type II diabetes, depression, and Parkinson’s disease, as well as in skin care. In addition, synthesized heme molecules can activate heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and induce anti-oxide-radical, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral activities, as well as enhancing the immune system. Consequently, these mechanisms are utilized in treatments for inflammatory diseases and infectious diseases.
Regarding cancer cells, it is known that they do not use oxygen in mitochondria, even under aerobic conditions, causing deficiency in ferrochelatase activity. Ferrochelatase is the final-step enzyme in heme biosynthesis and is coupled with complex I of the mitochondrial electron transfer chain. As a result, cancer cells accumulate protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) instead of heme. PPIX can be activated by energy sourced from light, X-rays, and ultrasound. Using these mechanisms, 5-ALA has been applied to photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) and therapy (PDT), as well as radiodynamic therapy (RDT) and sonodynamic therapy (SDT).
In this Special Issue, we would like to present a range of potential activities for 5-ALA and discuss its potential applications in healthcare and life sciences.
Prof. Dr. Motowo Nakajima
Prof. Dr. Walter Stummer
Dr. Shun-ichiro Ogura
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)
- heme
- protoporphyrin IX
- photodynamic diagnosis
- fluorescence guided surgery
- photodynamic therapy
- cancer metastasis
- reactive oxygen species (ROS)
- oxide radical
- heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1)
- NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)
- anti-inflammation
- mitochondrial disease
- diabetes
- infectious disease
- malaria
- COVID-19
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