Kynurenines in the Mammalian Brain: when Physiology Meets Pathology

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2012 Jun 9

PMID 22678511

Citations 665

Authors

Robert Schwarcz

John P Bruno

Paul J Muchowski

Hui-Qiu Wu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The essential amino acid tryptophan is not only a precursor of serotonin but is also degraded to several other neuroactive compounds, including kynurenic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine and quinolinic acid. The synthesis of these metabolites is regulated by an enzymatic cascade, known as the kynurenine pathway, that is tightly controlled by the immune system. Dysregulation of this pathway, resulting in hyper-or hypofunction of active metabolites, is associated with neurodegenerative and other neurological disorders, as well as with psychiatric diseases such as depression and schizophrenia. With recently developed pharmacological agents, it is now possible to restore metabolic equilibrium and envisage novel therapeutic interventions.

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