Short note: possible role of macrophage metabolic products including quinolinic acid and neopterin in the pathogenesis of inflammatory brain diseases.
It is hypothesized that macrophage metabolic products, including the possible neurotoxic NMDA receptor agonist quinolinic acid, and neopterin, may play a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory brain diseases. It is suggested that the production of neopterin may have physiological roles, including to inhibit folate synthesis in intracellular pathogenic microorganisms and to inhibit viral nucleic acid synthesis. The possible role of excess neopterin production during chronic infection in the pathogenesis of inflammatory brain diseases is discussed.
Biogenesys Inc., Albany, CA 94706.
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Rabinoff
D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000209:etiology*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D019798:Neopterin; D017378:Quinolinic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism
D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D001708:Biopterins; D019798:Neopterin; D005492:Folic Acid; D017378:Quinolinic Acid