Immunosuppression routed via the kynurenine pathway: a biochemical and pathophysiologic approach.
In the past years, it has been shown that kynurenines pathway is a regulator of both the innate and the adaptive immune responses. Particularly, the initial enzyme of this pathway, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), is implicated in maintaining tolerance during pregnancy, and also can be expressed in tumors to avoid the immune attack. In this chapter, we will describe how the kynurenine pathway affects the immune system with important implications both in physiology and in pathology. The incorrect activation or blockade suppressive properties of the kynurenine pathway are also implicated in a number of other diseases such as AIDS or autoimmune diseases.
González
Alvaro
A
Laboratory of Biochemistry, University Clinic of Navarra, Avda Pio XII 36, Pamplona 31008, Spain.
Varo
Nerea
N
Alegre
Estibaliz
E
Díaz
Angel
A
Melero
Ignacio
I
D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D050503:Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
D050503:Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase; D007737:Kynurenine