Year: 2015
Type: review
Abstract: The kynurenine (Kyn) pathway is the major route for tryptophan (Trp) metabolism, and it contributes to several fundamental biological processes. Trp is constitutively oxidized by tryptophan 2, 3-dioxygenase in liver cells. In other cell types, it is catalyzed by an alternative inducible indoleamine-pyrrole 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) under certain pathophysiological conditions, which consequently increases the formation of Kyn metabolites. IDO is up-regulated in response to inflammatory conditions as a novel marker of immune activation in early atherosclerosis. Besides, IDO and the IDO-related pathway are important mediators of the immunoinflammatory responses in advanced atherosclerosis. In particular, Kyn, 3-hydroxykynurenine, and quinolinic acid are positively associated with inflammation, oxidative stress (SOX), endothelial dysfunction, and carotid artery intima-media thickness values in end-stage renal disease patients. Moreover, IDO is a potential novel contributor to vessel relaxation and metabolism in systemic infections, which is also activated in acute severe heart attacks. The Kyn pathway plays a key role in the increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease by regulating inflammation, SOX, and immune activation.
Source: Frontiers in bioscience
DOI: 10.2741/4363
Author: Ming-Hui Zou
Institution: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Language: English
Subfield: Biological Psychiatry
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Awards: SIRT1, Vascular Aging and an Aortic Aneurysm, Prevention of High Fat Diet-Induced Vascular Injury, Autophagy and diabetic vascular diseases, Autophagy and VSMC migration, Oxidant stress and diabetic endothelial dysfunction, AMP-activated protein kinase in diabetes, Controlling atherosclerotic plaque stability, Suppression of Autophagy-Dependent Clearance Mitochondria in Type 2 Diabetes, Inflammasome and unstable atherosclerotic plaques, Angiotensin-II, GTPCH1 and 26S Protesomes
OpenAlex ID: W2471827535