Therapeutic potential of HDAC6 inhibitor Tubastatin A in health and diseases: current perspective and future directions.

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is a unique, predominantly cytoplasmic enzyme that regulates a broad spectrum of cellular and physiological processes, including cell proliferation, migration, intracellular transport, and differentiation. Its distinct structural configuration, comprising two catalytic deacetylase domains and a zinc finger ubiquitin-binding domain (ZnF-BUZ), enables HDAC6 to deacetylate a variety of non-histone substrates, such as α-tubulin, heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), cortactin, and peroxiredoxin (Prdx). Furthermore, HDAC6 plays a key role in cellular stress responses and cell survival by facilitating the clearance of misfolded proteins, inducing autophagy, and modulating the unfolded protein response. Despite its cytoprotective roles, HDAC6 has emerged as a therapeutic target due to its involvement in multiple pathological pathways and age-related disorders. Tubastatin A (Tub A), a novel and highly selective HDAC6 inhibitor, demonstrates strong therapeutic potential against neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, autoimmune, metabolic, cancer, and other diseases. Tub A enhances the acetylation of both histone and non-histone proteins, thereby modulating gene expression and diverse cellular processes. It shows pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-oxidant, and other activities. Moreover, preclinical evidence suggests that Tub A effectively regulates multiple pathological pathways by inhibiting HDAC6, which contributes to ameliorating age-related disorders. Therefore, Tub A represents a promising epigenetic modulator with broad therapeutic relevance. Hence, further comprehensive and large-scale investigations are warranted to elucidate its clinical potential and its roles in disease management, as no clinical data related to Tub A activity are available. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of the selective HDAC6 inhibitor Tub A across various pathological conditions, discusses current preclinical findings, and outlines key challenges and future directions for clinical translation.

© 2026 The Author(s).