Advances in the therapeutic applications of dichloroacetate as a metabolic regulator: A review
Xiaohuan Wu, Min Shang, Meichuan Li, Yujuan Liu, Han Hu, Ping Zhang, Qiuyi He, Shide Lin
Abstract
Dichloroacetate (DCA), as a pan-inhibitor of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, plays a crucial role in energy metabolism and mitochondrial function. DCA decreases lactic acid synthesis, enhances mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and regulates aerobic glycolysis. During the last decade, more and more studies have found that disorders of energy metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction play a pivotal role in the development and progression of various diseases, and the role of DCA in cancer, metabolic diseases, and inflammatory diseases has been extensively explored in both basic and clinical studies. In this review, we summarize advances in the therapeutic applications of DCA as a metabolic regulator.