# Inosine: biofunctions and the roles in human diseases

**Authors:** Fangwei Li, Jiawen Zhang, Jiayi Kang, Xuemei Tong, Ping Zhang, Yemin Zhu

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2025.1634814 · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2025-10-15

## TL;DR

This paper explores inosine's diverse biological roles and its connections to various human diseases, suggesting potential for new treatments.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of inosine's biofunctions and its relevance as a biomarker in multiple diseases.

## Key findings

- Inosine plays roles in metabolism modulation and purinergic signaling.
- It is linked to diseases like cancer, obesity, and neurodegenerative disorders.
- Inosine shows potential as a biomarker for disease detection and treatment.

## Abstract

Inosine, a basic component of purine nucleotide, is mainly seen only as a building block in nucleotide synthesis. It is also a versatile bioactive molecule with diverse biofunctions. These biofunctions are strongly related to human diseases or pathological conditions, such as cancer, obesity, inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, and autoimmune diseases. In this article, we will discuss the roles and functions of inosine in a wide array of human diseases, targeting metabolism modulation, purinergic signaling, and RNA editing. We will also mention its great importance as a biomarker of human diseases. We believe that a more thorough understanding of inosine and its intricate roles in various human diseases could inspire future therapeutic methods or preventive modalities for these diseases.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** inosine (PubChem CID 135398641)
- **Diseases:** cancer (MONDO:0004992), obesity (MONDO:0011122)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** autoimmune diseases (MESH:D001327), obesity (MESH:D009765), neurodegenerative diseases (MESH:D019636), cancer (MESH:D009369), inflammation (MESH:D007249)
- **Chemicals:** purine (MESH:C030985), Inosine (MESH:D007288)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

4 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12568433/full.md

## References

104 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12568433/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12568433